I may do some good before I am dead--be a sort of success as a frightful example of what not to do; and so illustrate a moral story.

Patience, that blending of moral courage with physical timidity.

Do not do an immoral thing for moral reasons.

...for very strangely his officers looked upon Jack Aubrey as a moral figure, in spite of all proofs of the contrary...

If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning.

Be careful how you live. Someone is always watching and will look to you as an example, an excuse, or a warning. The message some choices send is why struggle to do the right thing when you can do the wrong thing and be happy. Should we be happy or should we be right?