benefit of good moral habits

Once the Blessed One lived at Saavatthi, in the Jeta Grove, in Anaathapindika's monastery. At that time, the venerable Aananda approached the Blessed One and asked:
"What, Lord, is the benefit of good moral habits, what is their reward?" — "Non-remorse, Aananda, is the benefit and reward of good moral habits."
"And what, Lord, is the benefit and reward of non-remorse?" — "Gladness, Aananda."
"And what, Lord, is the benefit and reward of gladness?" — "(Deep inner) joy (piiti)." "And what, Lord, is the benefit and reward of (deep inner) joy?" — "Tranquillity." "And what, Lord, is the benefit and reward of tranquillity?" — "Happiness." "And what, Lord, is the benefit and reward of happiness?" — "Concentration of the mind." "And what, Lord, is the benefit and reward of concentration?" — "Realistic knowledge and vision."
"And what, Lord, is the benefit and reward of realistic knowledge and vision?" — "Revulsion and dispassion."
"And what, Lord, is the benefit and reward of revulsion and dispassion?" — "The knowledge and vision of deliverance.
"Hence, Aananda, good moral habits have non-remorse as their benefit and reward; non-remorse has gladness as its benefit and reward; gladness has (deep inner) joy as its benefit and reward; joy has tranquillity as its benefit and reward; tranquillity has happiness as its benefit and reward; happiness has concentration of the mind as its benefit and reward; concentration has realistic knowledge and vision as its benefit and reward; realistic knowledge and vision has revulsion and dispassion as its benefit and reward; revulsion and dispassion have the knowledge and vision of deliverance as their benefit and reward. In this way, Aananda, good moral habits lead step by step to the highest."