By constant self-discipline and self-control you can develop greatness of character.
—Grenville Kleiser (1868–1935) Canadian Author
I believe in the supreme worth of the individual and in his right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I believe that every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty. I believe that the law was made for man and not man for the law; that government is the servant of the people and not their master. I believe in the dignity of labor, whether with head or hand; that the world owes no man a living but that it owes every man an opportunity to make a living. I believe that thrift is essential to well-ordered living and that economy is a prime requisite of a sound financial structure, whether in government, business or personal affairs. I believe that truth and justice are fundamental to an enduring social order. I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man’s word should be as good as his bond; that character-not wealth or power or position-is of supreme worth. I believe that the rendering of useful service is the common duty of mankind and that only in the purifying fire of sacrifice is the dross of selfishness consumed and the greatness of the human soul set free. I believe in an all-wise and all-loving God, named by whatever name, and that the individual’s highest fulfillment, greatest happiness and widest usefulness are to be found in living in harmony with His will. I believe that love is the greatest thing in the world; that it alone can overcome hate; that right can and will triumph over might.
—John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (1874–1960) American Philanthropist, Businessperson
Genius is an infinite capacity for taking life by the scruff of the neck.
—Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) American Actor, TV Personality
Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wings. Only one thing endures, and that is character.
—Horace Greeley (1811–72) American Elected Rep, Politician, Reformer, Editor
Perhaps a man’s character was like a tree, and his reputation like its shadow; the shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State, Lawyer, Politician
Character is built out of circumstances. — From exactly the same materials one man builds palaces, while another builds hovels.
—George Henry Lewes (1817–78) English Philosopher, Literary Critic, Art Critic
Let us not say, every man is the architect of his own fortune; but let us say, every man is the architect of his own character.
—George Boardman (1801–31) American Baptist Minister
A person reveals his character by nothing so clearly as the joke he resents.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Scientist, Critic, Writer
Some men succeed by what they know; some by what they do; and a few by what they are.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
I admire men of character and I judge character not by how men deal with their superiors, but mostly how they deal with their subordinates. And that, to me, is where you find out what the character of a man is.
—H. Norman Schwarzkopf (b.1934) American Military Leader
Character is what you are in the dark.
—Dwight L. Moody (1837–99) Christian Religious Leader, Publisher
A man’s reaction to his appetites and impulses when they are roused gives the measure of that man’s character. In these reactions are revealed the man’s power to govern or his forced servility to yield.
—David O. McKay (1873–1970) American Mormon Religious Leader
He that can heroically endure adversity will bear prosperity with equal greatness of soul; for the mind that cannot be dejected by the former is not likely to be transported with the latter.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
Fame is what you have taken, character is what you give. When to this truth you awaken, then you begin to live.
—Bayard Taylor (1825–78) American Poet, Literary Critic, Translator, Translator
Surmounting difficulty is the crucible that forms character.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Actor Author, Public Speaker
Calamity is the test of integrity.
—Samuel Richardson (1689–1761) English Novelist, Printer, Publisher
Too often the strong, silent man is silent only because he does not know what to say, and is reputed strong only because he has remained silent.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Character is what you know you are, not what others think you have.
—Marva Collins (b.1936) American Educator
Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character.
—Swami Sivananda
Old age and sickness bring out the essential characteristics of a man.
—Felix Frankfurter (1882–1965) American Judge
Sow an act…reap a habit; Sow a habit…reap a character; Sow a character…reap a destiny.
—George Boardman (1801–31) American Baptist Minister
Nobody holds a good opinion of a man who has a low opinion of himself.
—Anthony Trollope (1815–82) English Novelist
Men of genius are admired, men of wealth are envied, men of power are feared; but only men of character are trusted.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychologist, Psychiatrist
We know but a few men, a great many coats and breeches.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher, Poet, Naturalist, Historian, Author
There is (a) spiritual strength derived from the subjecting of the physical appetite to the will of the individual. “He who reigns within himself and rules passions, desires, and fears is more than king”. If there were no other virtues in fasting but gaining strength of character, that alone would be sufficient justification for its universal acceptance.
—David O. McKay (1873–1970) American Mormon Religious Leader
Nothing tells more about the character of a man than the things he makes fun of.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet, Novelist, Playwright, Philosopher
If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself.
—Dwight L. Moody (1837–99) Christian Religious Leader, Publisher
Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Dramatist, Short Story Writer, Journalist, Writer
Few persons are made of such strong fiber that they will make a costly outlay when surface work will pass as well in the market.
—Edward McKendree Bounds (1835–1913) American Methodist Clergyman, Author, Lawyer
Character is the result of two things: mental attitude and the way we spend our time.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
It is always easier to fight for one’s principles than to live up to them.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychologist, Psychiatrist
Character must stand behind and back up everything — the sermon, the poem, the picture, the play. None of them is worth a straw without it.
—Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819–81) American Novelist, Poet
Talents are best nurtured in solitude; character is best formed in the stormy billows of the world.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet, Novelist, Playwright, Philosopher
He is like a good prewar house-solidly built. They don’t build them that way anymore. He’s also been repainted several times.
—Theodore H. White (1915–86) American Journalist, Historian, Novelist
It’s true that charisma can make a person stand out for a moment, but character sets a person apart for a lifetime.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Christian Professional Speaker, Author, Clergyman
Reflect upon the defects of your character: thoroughly realize their evils and the transient pleasures they give you, and firmly will that you shall try your best not to yield to them the next time.
—Helena Blavatsky (1831–91) Ukrainian-born American Theosophist, Spiritual Leader, Philosopher, Mystic
Character is power; it makes friends, draws patronage and support and opens the way to wealth, honor and happiness.
—John Howe (b.1957) Canadian Artist
Show class, have pride and display character.If you do, winning takes care of itself.
—Bear Bryant (1913–83) American Sportsperson
Good taste is better than bad taste, but bad taste is better than no taste.
—Arnold Bennett (1867–1931) British Novelist
Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.
—Confucius (551BCE–479BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Religious Leader
Character is the result of hundreds and hundreds of choices you make that gradually turn who you are, at any given moment, into who you want to be.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
I have only got down on to paper, really, three types of people: the person I think I am, the people who irritate me, and the people I’d like to be.
—E. M. Forster (1879–1970) English Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist
It’s amazing how many cares disappear when you|decide not to be something, but to be someone.
—Coco Chanel (1883–1971) French Fashion Designer, Businessperson, Entrepreneur
Character is much easier kept than recovered.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any.
—Fred Astaire (1899–1987) American Actor, Film Personality, Theater Personality, Choreographer
You have three names:
The one you inherited,
The one your parents gave you,
And the one you make for your self.
—Sanhedrin (b.1806)
Among the sentiments of most powerful operation upon the human heart, and most highly honorable to the human character, are those of veneration for our forefathers and of love for our posterity.
—John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) American Head of State, Lawyer
The time is always right to do what?s right.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Character is the salesperson
—George Madison Adams (1837–1920) American Politician, Military Leader
Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.
—Anne Frank (1929–45) German Holocaust Victim
It’s really a wonder that I haven’t dropped all my ideals because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet, I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery, and death. I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness, I hear the ever-approaching thunder, which will destroy us too, I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again.
—Anne Frank (1929–45) German Holocaust Victim
A talent can be cultivated in tranquility; a character only in the rushing stream of life.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet, Novelist, Playwright, Philosopher
A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you, and were helped by you, will remember you when forget-me-nots are withered. Carve your name on hearts, and not on marble.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) British Baptist Preacher, Theologian, Hymn writer
After I’m dead I’d rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one.
—Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) (233BCE–148BCE) Ancient Roman Political leader, Jurist, Historian
Once you uncover the history of this pattern and trace its roots, you will see that your reaction in the present moment is really a reaction from the past, a shadow character’s attempt to protect you from reexperiencing an old emotional wound, which instead sabotages you in the present.
—Connie Zweig American Minister, Columnist, Psychotherapist
Walk in another’s shoes before judging them.Touch a person’s heart before trying to change their head.While there’s life, there’s hope.
—Terence Ancient Roman Playwright
What others say of me matters little, what I myself say and do matters much.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.
—James A. Michener (1907–97) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Historian
You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them or to them.
—Malcolm Forbes (1919–90) American Publisher
Human improvement is from within outward.
—James Anthony Froude (1818–94) British Historian, Novelist, Biographer, Editor
If one sticks too rigidly to one’s principles, one would hardly see anybody.
—Agatha Christie (1890–1976) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing; it also depends on what sort of person you are.
—C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) Irish-born British Children’s Books Writer, Novelist, Academic, Literary Critic, Essayist, Theologian