Years ago, i read a fic -Cuatro Casas, by mullu- that, from Luna's perspective, outlined a very powerful theory about the Four Houses of Hogwarts and the importante of their work in unison.
In this story, the Founders did not choose their students by the virtues they had more affinity with, but by the ones they considered most important to create change.
Rowena Ravenclaw believed that major changes arose from great ideas. Is not about being "smart". Being a Ravenclaw means to apply your ability to bring solutions and discoveries to the world, and generate a change.
For Godric Gryffindor, great changes are a matter of going out and make them happen. Being a Gryffindor is get up and make things happen. Is don't stop, is march to the front. Is fight for what is right no matter what happens.
Salazar Slytherin believed that major changes could only come from a position with enough power to impose them. Being a Slytherin means being influential, cunning, wanting to get high. And above all, means to understand power itself, how to get it, how to use it.
And for Helga Hufflepuff, major changes were only possible through small changes. She believed that change requires time, effort and perseverance to develop and mantain. Being a Hufflepuff is to work for change in your daily life, to live consistently.
The paths of the Founders did not work by themselves. Ideas don't work if there's no one to implement them. Make a path only have sense if you know where you're going. Ideas and courage goes nowhere without the power to impose them. Nothing lasts if you don't keep it alive.