The Significance of Seven

Of what significance is the number seven? Consider these: the seven wonders of the world, the seven seas, the seven deadly sins, the seven daughters of Atlas in the Pleiades, the seven ages of man, the seven levels of hell, the seven primary colors, the seven notes of the musical scale, the seven days of the week, the seven-point rating scale, the seven categories for absolute judgment, the seven objects in the span of attention, and the seven digits in the span of immediate memory.

Mahatma Gandhi identified seven sins:

Wealth without work
Pleasure without conscience
Knowledge without character
Commerce without morality
Science without humanity
Worship without sacrifice
Politics without principle


The Seven Deadly Sins are said to be:

Pride
Avarice/Greed
Envy
Wrath/Anger
Lust
Gluttony
Sloth


The Seven Virtues are said to be:

Prudence
Temperance
Fortitude
Justice
Faith
Hope
Love or Charity


There are seven virtues associated with Bushido (the way of the Warrior):

Rectitude
Valor
Benevolence
Respect
Honesty
Honor
Loyalty


The Buddhist Seven Sublime Virtues are:

Faith
Moral shame
Moral fear
Knowledge
Effort
Mindfulness
Wisdom