From Francis Bacon's essay *Of Adversity* (1625). Select the word that fits the blank. "The virtue of prosperity, is temperance; the virtue of adversity, is ______; which in morals is the more heroical virtue."
Apatience
Bfortitude
Cmodesty
Dhope
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. fortitude
Bacon's structure is a strict parallel: *the virtue of prosperity is X; the virtue of adversity is Y*. The relative clause then describes Y as "the more heroical virtue" — a clue that points to a courage-flavored word.
"Fortitude" — strength of mind in enduring hardship — is the classical virtue paired with adversity in Stoic ethics, which Bacon is drawing on.
- "Patience" overlaps but is the *minor* virtue beside fortitude; Bacon needs the heroic register.
- "Modesty" doesn't pair with adversity.
- "Hope" is a theological virtue, not the adversity-specific one being named.
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