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Table 2 Rank order (1–10) of the freely mentioned virtues in 14 nations, frequencies are indicated below the virtue

From: Are virtues national, supranational, or universal?

Rank order Nation

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Austria

Honesty

Helpfulness

Kindness

Reliability

Openness

Punctuality

Tolerance

Ambition

Resolution

Humour

N = 276

169

80

79

68

47

45

42

29

27

27

61%

29%

29%

25%

17%

16%

15%

11%

10%

10%

Czech Republic

Resolution

Reliability

Courage

Wisdom

Openness

Helpfulness

Tolerance

Honesty

Respect

Punctuality

N = 231

58

43

42

30

27

23

22

19

19

16

25%

19%

18%

13%

12%

10%

10%

8%

18%

7%

France

Generosity

Courage

Honesty

Kindness

Respect

Empathy

Patience

Altruism

Smartness

Openness

N = 213

55

52

52

41

38

30

28

21

20

16

26%

24%

24%

19%

18%

14%

13%

9%

9%

%

Great Britain

Kindness

Honesty

Humour

Happiness

Respect

Resolution

Patience

Helpfulness

Empathy

Openness/Trust

N = 149

68

34

34

26

24

19

18

17

17

16

46%

23%

23%

17%

16%

13%

12%

11%

11%

11%

Germany

Honesty

Openness

Reliability

Respect

Tolerance

Kindness

Helpfulness

Humour

Punctuality

Justice/Joy

N = 220

157

80

67

66

63

58

50

32

30

25

 

71%

36%

30%

30%

29%

26%

23%

15%

14%

11%

Hong Kong

Honesty

Courtesy

Tolerance

Consideration

Optimism

Responsibility

Resolution

Self-confidence

Respect

Modesty

N = 101

30

13

12

12

11

11

11

10

10

10

30%

13%

12%

12%

11%

11%

11%

10%

10%

10%

India

Diligence

Kindness

Joy

Dynamism

Humour

Love

Intelligence

Caring

Honesty

Reliability/Courage

N = 152

27

13

12

12

12

11

11

9

9

9

18%

9%

8%

8%

8%

7%

7%

6%

65

6%

Malaysia

Honesty

Respect

Happiness

Love

Kindness

Helpfulness

Optimism

Courtesy

Responsibility

Faith

N = 212

35

26

23

22

21

20

15

14

14

14

17%

12%

11%

10%

10%

9%

7%

7%

7%

14%

Mexico

Respect

Honesty

Happiness

Responsibility

Love

Peace

Friendship

Certainty

Tolerance

Loyalty/ Empathy

N = 146

54

38

31

30

26

19

19

13

12

10

37%

26%

21%

20%

18%

13%

13%

9%

8%

7%

Netherlands

Respect

Kindness

Honesty

Helpfulness

Social

Openness

Joy

Tolerance

Reliability

Responsibility

N = 660 1

203

201

175

129

77

64

58

58

57

56

31%

30%

27%

20%

12%

10%

9%

9%

9%

8%

Norway

Openness

Empathy

Kindness

Honesty

Optimism

Humour

Social

Consideration

Patience

Helpfulness/Caring

N = 190

72

55

52

48

44

32

31

30

23

23

38%

29%

27%

25%

23%

17%

16%

16%

12%

12%

Poland

Openness

Honesty

Respect

Tolerance

Optimism

Communicativeness

Empathy

Resolution

Kindness

Humor

N = 163

52

31

26

24

21

19

19

18

17

17

32%

19%

16%

15%

13%

12%

12%

11%

10%

10%

Spain

Respect

Love

Honesty

Friendship

Happiness

Joy

Justice

Solidarity

Tolerance

Trust

N = 203

86

44

38

32

23

17

15

14

13

13

42%

22%

19%

16%

11%

8%

7%

7%

6%

6%

United States

Honesty

Kindness

Caring

Respect

Empathy

Patience

Openness

Modesty

Love

Humor/Diligence

N = 191

105

57

36

31

28

26

24

22

21

20

55%

30%

19%

16%

15%

14%

13%

12%

11%

10%

  1. 1For the Netherlands, we disposed of answers to this particular question from an additional comparable group (N = 289) of higher educated respondents and added these to the sample for the current study (N = 371).