The Virtuous Review: Sharpening Code and Character
From ego-driven critiques to a forge for growth and trust.
Code reviews sting.
Not because we're fragile.
But because ego grips what it helps create.
Vague feedback doesn't just slow velocity. It erodes trust.
What should shape better engineers often becomes fuel for ego.
We've seen the signs:
Comments that bruise instead of build
Nitpicks dressed in mentorship's clothing
Drive-by comments that pose as diligence but lack depth
But maybe the issue isn't technical.
Maybe it's moral.
The Stoic Path
To the Stoics, virtue wasn't theory.
It was practice. Quiet. Daily. Chosen when no one was watching.
Clarity. Justice. Humility. Patience. Goodwill.
Seen with this lens, code review isn't a checkpoint.
It is a forge.
"No man is noble by accident." - Seneca.
A virtuous review sharpens more than logic.
It hones the character behind the keyboard.
When both reviewer and reviewee act from principle, each comment becomes a mirror.
Not just for the code.
But for the self.
1. Clarity (Saphênēia)
"Be precise in your speech." - Epictetus
Ambiguity feels kind, but it leads to confusion and rework.
"Needs work" teaches nothing.
"This function breaks SRP. It parses input and writes to the database," opens a door to clarity.
Observed Pattern
"Refactor this" leaves too much unclear. Confusion spreads.
Regressions follow.
Now reframe it: "This breaks SRP. Let's move validation into its utility."
The fog clears. The signal returns.
Precision doesn't overreach. It protects. It prevents drift. It reinforces the whole.
Practice
Trade vague labels for concrete causes
Root feedback in principle: readability, cohesion, performance
Name the why, not just the what
Clarity is kindness with edges.
2. Perspective (Prosoche)
"When you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself the following question: What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize?" - Marcus Aurelius
Review the code. Not the coder.
"Why would anyone write this?" reflects more ego than inquiry.
A wise reviewer pauses before pouncing.
They ask: What problem was this solving? What shaped this path?
Observed Pattern
Duplicated logic. Async guards. Strange edge flags.
What looks bloated may be guarding against race conditions.
Asking "What led to this?" shows more than technical curiosity.
It shows respect.
Practice
Replace judgment with honest questions
Use neutral words: "this block," not "your mess."
Start with inquiry, not assumption
Ego leaps. Virtue listens.
3. Justice (Dikaiosyne)
"What is not just is not useful either." - Marcus Aurelius
Fairness is not sameness.
It is integrity applied with care.
Observed Pattern
Leaders erode trust quietly but deeply when they nitpick one developer and let another slide.
When a lead notices and realigns expectations for all, they do more than correct.
They reset trust and re-anchor what fairness feels like.
Practice
Apply the same standards to all
Match tone to context and skill
Speak when an imbalance appears. Silence also shapes
Justice does not impose. It restores balance.
4. Humility (Sophrosyne)
"It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows." - Epictetus.
The best reviewers don't posture. They explore.
They ask. They listen. They allow room to be wrong.
Observed Pattern
Questions about libraries or state handling often vanish with a quick check of the docs.
"Thanks, I hadn't seen that" isn't failure.
It's forward motion.
Cultures built on humility don't punish mistakes; instead, they foster growth and learning.
They turn missteps into shared lessons.
Practice (Reviewer)
"I might be missing something. Can you walk me through it?"
Practice (Reviewee)
"That helps. I hadn't thought of it that way."
Humility doesn't weaken critique.
It opens the door to truth.
5. Patience (Karteria)
"No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen." - Epictetus.
Thoughtful review takes time.
Time to look. Time to think. Time to understand.
Rush distorts. Stillness reveals.
Observed Pattern
"Overengineered" is often the reflex of a fast scroll.
But when you pause, a pattern emerges.
A well-built structure reveals its logic upon closer inspection.
What felt bloated may be carrying real weight, well.
Practice
Make time to read without distraction
Don't multitask. Attention is part of the craft
Let silence speak before you do
Patience sees what speed misses.
6. Benevolence (Eunoia)
"What is not good for the beehive cannot be good for the bee." - Marcus Aurelius.
Feedback isn't combat. Its contribution.
An excellent review says, "I see your work. Let's sharpen it."
Observed Pattern
Begin with a sincere nod, "Clean abstraction here" and you shift the whole thread.
Walls lower. Ideas move.
Rigor still lands, but now it lands where it can take root.
Kindness doesn't soften critique. It sharpens its impact.
It accelerates.
Practice
Lead with strength
Close with care
Give credit when it's hardest to see
Kindness is not decoration.
It is a signal.
It says: You belong here.
Embodying the Virtues
Virtue isn't an accident.
It is a structure. It is an effort.
It's what survives when tension arrives.
For Reviewers
Review the work, not the person
Ask before instructing
Suggest instead of ordering
Speak from principles, not preference
Stay curious
Carve space to reflect
For Reviewees
Assume good intent
Listen before defending
Ask for insight
Invite friction
Say thanks
These are not tactics.
They are scaffolding.
The Compound Interest of Virtue
What happens when reviews become virtuous?
Code sharpens.
Knowledge flows.
Walls come down.
Trust steps in.
Ego takes a step back.
Every comment becomes mentorship.
Every review is an act of shared improvement.
Like muscle and trust, virtue builds with use.
Not just better code.
Better coders.
Sharpened, one principled comment at a time.
What kind of reviewer are you when no one is watching?