Marc Berardinelli, Tim, and Steve discuss Marcus Aurelius and the Touchstones of Goodness:

Many call them “cardinal virtues” — they have been adopted by Christianity, most of the Western world, as well as Buddhism, Hinduism, and just about every other philosophy

They’re called “cardinal" because they originate from the Latin cardo which means hinge

It’s pivotal stuff — the hardware upon which the door to the "good life" hangs