The test of any man’s character is how he takes praise.
—Unknown
Give fools their gold, and knaves their power;
Let fortune’s bubbles rise and fall;
Who sows a field, or trains a flower,
Or plants a tree, is more than all.
—John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–92) American Quaker Poet, Abolitionist
The man that makes a character, makes foes.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
The superior man cannot be known in little matters, but he may be entrusted with great concerns. The small man may not be entrusted with great concerns, but he may be known in little matters.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
He that has light within his own cleer brest
May sit ith center, and enjoy bright day,
But he that hides a dark soul, and foul thoughts
Benighted walks under the mid-day Sun;
Himself is his own dungeon.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of a man he is?. Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth?. If there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way the suddenness of the provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man; it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am. The rats are always there in the cellar, but if you go in shouting and noisily they will have taken cover before you switch on the light.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
If you create an act, you create a habit. If you create a habit, you create a character. If you create a character, you create a destiny.
—Andre Maurois (1885–1967) French Novelist, Biographer
Luck is always waiting for something to turn up. Labor, with keen eyes and strong will, always turns up something. Luck lies in bed and wishes the postman will bring news of a legacy. Labor turns out at six o’clock and with busy pen or ringing hammer, lays the foundation of a competence. Luck whines. Labor whistles. Luck relies on chance, labor on character.
—Richard Cobden
Character is made by many acts; it may be lost by a single one.
—Unknown
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
Life is a long lesson in humility.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
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
The superior man is all-embracing and not partial. The inferior man is partial and not all-embracing.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
There are three crowns: that of the Law, the priesthood, and royalty; but the crown of a good name is loftier than all these.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
What others say of me matters little, what I myself say and do matters much.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
To keep your character intact you cannot stoop to filthy acts. It makes it easier to stoop the next time.
—Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) American Actor, TV Personality
When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.
—Japanese Proverb
They’re only truly great who are truly good.
—George Chapman (c.1560–1634) English Poet, Playwright
The empty vessel makes the loudest sound.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
No one should feel pride in anything that is not his own.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
The quality of strength lined with tenderness is an unbeatable combination, as are intelligence and necessity when unblunted by formal education.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American Poet
You can never have a greater or a less dominion than over yourself.
—Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Polymath, Painter, Sculptor, Inventor, Architect
One way of getting along with people is the ability to give in. Strength of character means the ability to give in to others from motives of love, kindness, and humility, and to do so gracefully, when no sin is involved. It also means the ability to stand on principle, and not to give in, when sin is involved.
—Lawrence G. Lovasik
You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Clothes cover up character.
—Jamaican Proverb
Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Perfection of means and confusion of goals seem, in my opinion, to characterize our age.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
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
Character, in great and little things, means carrying through what you feel able to do.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Character is simply habit long enough continued.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
Don’t stand for something? You’ll fall for anything.
—African Proverb
How difficult it is to save the bark of reputation from the rocks of ignorance.
—Petrarch (1304–74) Italian Scholar, Poet, Humanist
Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
The four cornerstones of character on which the structure of this nation was built are: Initiative, Imagination, Individuality and Independence.
—Eddie Rickenbacker (1890–1973) American Aviator
Property may be destroyed and money may lose its purchasing power; but, character, health, knowledge and good judgment will always be in demand under all conditions.
—Roger Babson (1875–1967) American Economist
Before you are five and twenty you must establish a character that will serve you all your life.
—Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood (1750–1810) English Naval Commander
Between ourselves and our real natures we interpose that wax figure of idealizations and selections which we call our character.
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974) American Journalist, Political Commentator, Writer
Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color. Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense, and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable.
—Unknown
No amount of ability is of the slightest avail without honor.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Because everything we say and do is the length and shadow of our own souls, our influence is determined by the quality of our being.
—Dale Turner (1917–2006) American Priest, Columnist, Epigrammist
It is my ambition and desire to so administer the affairs of the government while I remain President that if at the end I have lost every other friend on earth I shall at least have one friend remaining and that one shall be down inside me.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Genius is an infinite capacity for taking life by the scruff of the neck.
—Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) American Actor, TV Personality
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige and even his life for the welfare of others.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Labor to keep alive that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
To point out the importance of circumspection in your conduct, it may be proper to observe that a good moral character is the first essential in a man, and that the habits contracted at your age are generally indelible, and your conduct here may stamp your character through life. It is therefore highly important that you should endeavor not only to be learned but virtuous.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Everyone has the obligation to ponder well his own specific traits of character. He must also regulate them adequately and not wonder whether someone else’s traits might suit him better. The more definitely his own a man’s character is, the better it fits him.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
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
Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out.
—Art Linkletter (1912–2010) Canadian-born American Radio Personality, TV Personality