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In opposition to the ethical theories of the second half of the twentieth century, Elizabeth Anscombe inaugurated a philosophy of action that placed virtues back at the heart of ethical debate. Throughout her work, she developed an original type of moral realism centred on the notion of epistemic integrity. Following Socrates’ example, moral vigilance takes the form of a daimon reminding each of us of the need to examine our lives. For Anscombe, certain acts must be rejected outright, regardless of the cost to our well-being or the consequences. But this cannot be done at the expense of personal discernment or at the risk of alienation. Examining the deeper connections within Anscombe’s philosophy can ease these tensions if not completely resolve them. Prohibitions do not need to be decreed by an external authority in order to be absolute; they can impose themselves as an inner certainty on account of our spiritual nature.