Men are not made religious by performing certain actions which are externally good, but they must first have righteous principles, and then they will not fail to perform virtuous actions.

Summary

This quote is emphasizing the intrinsic nature of religiousness and virtue. It suggests that simply engaging in morally upright actions does not inherently make a person religious. Instead, it argues that individuals must possess righteous principles as the foundation for their actions. With virtuous principles firmly established, individuals are more likely to consistently engage in righteous deeds. In essence, this quote highlights the importance of inner righteousness and moral grounding as the driving force behind virtuous actions.