Character is simply habit long enough continued.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
One crime is everything; two nothing.
—Dorothee Luzy Dotinville (1747–1830) French Dancer, Actress
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Historian, Political Leader, Explorer
Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Then no friends would not be like yourself.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Genius is an infinite capacity for taking life by the scruff of the neck.
—Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) American Actor, TV Personality
Better to be one sided than two faced. Man’s character is his fate.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
The purpose of life for man is growth, just as the purpose of life for trees and plants is growth. Trees and plants grow automatically and along fixed lines; man can grow as he will. Trees and plants can only develop certain possibilities and characteristics; man can develop any power which is or has been shown by any person anywhere. Nothing that is possible in spirit is impossible in flesh and blood. Nothing that man can think is impossible. Nothing that man can imagine is impossible of realization.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
The true test of character is not how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we don’t know what to do.
—John Holt (1923–85) American Educator, Homeschooling Pioneer
A character standard is far more important than ever a gold standard. The success of all economic systems is still dependent upon both righteous leaders and righteous people. In the last analysis, our national future depends upon our national character-that is, whether it is spiritually or materially minded.
—Roger Babson (1875–1967) American Economist
It is not money, nor is it mere intellect, that governs the world; it is moral character, and intellect associated with moral excellence.
—Theodore Dwight Woolsey (1801–89) American Academic, Scholar
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
—William J. H. Boetcker (1873–1962) American Presbyterian Minister
There are no secrets to success: don’t waste time looking for them. Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty to those for whom you work, and persistence.
—Colin Powell (1937–2021) American Military Leader
As a tree is known by its fruit, so man by his works.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Character is the indelible mark that determines the only true value of all people and all their work.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
A man with a so-called character is often a simple piece of mechanism; he has often only one point of view for the extremely complicated relationships of life.
—August Strindberg (1849–1912) Swedish Playwright, Novelist, Essayist
To measure the man, measure his heart.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
The character is like white paper; if once blotted, it can hardly ever be made to appear white as before.
—Joel Hawes (1789–1867) American Clergyman
The willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life is the source from which self-respect springs.
—Joan Didion (1934–2021) American Essayist, Novelist, Memoirist
Look, we’re all the same; a man is a fourteen-room house—in the bedroom he’s asleep with his intelligent wife, in the living-room he’s rolling around with some bareass girl, in the library he’s paying his taxes, in the yard he’s raising tomatoes, and in the cellar he’s making a bomb to blow it all up.
—Arthur Miller (1915–2005) American Playwright, Essayist
The aphorism, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is,” embraces the whole of man’s being. It is so comprehensive that it reaches out to every condition and circumstance of life. A man is literally what he thinks. His character is the sum of his thoughts.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
To be accounted trustworthy, a person must be predictable. When you manage your life and all the little decisions by one guideline—the Golden Rule—you create an ethical predictability in your life. People will have confidence in you, knowing that you consistently do the right thing.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Author, Speaker, Pastor
Forethought and prudence are the
proper qualities of a leader.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
Perfection of means and confusion of goals seem, in my opinion, to characterize our age.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
All men are alike in their lower natures; it is in their higher characters that they differ.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Character is always lost when a high ideal is sacrificed on the altar of conformity and popularity.
—Unknown
We falsely attribute to men a determined character—putting together all their yesterdays—and averaging them—we presume we know them. Pity the man who has character to support—it is worse than a large family—he is the silent poor indeed.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
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-American Theosophist, Leader, Philosopher
Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it, piece by piece—by thought, choice, courage and determination.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (1940–2021) American Author of “Life’s Little Instruction Book”
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 the Younger (1828–1903) American Clergyman, Author
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