Motivational Quotes

Character

Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.

- Abraham Lincoln

Best Quotes about Character

Character, not circumstances, makes the man.

Washington, Booker T.

Between ourselves and our real natures we interpose that wax figure of idealizations and selections which we call our character.

Lippmann, Walter

You are not very good if you are not better than your best friends imagine you to be.

Lavater, Johann Kaspar

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

Wooden, John

It is well for the world that in most of us, by the age of thirty, the character has set like plaster, and will never soften again.

James, William

Personality can open doors, but only character can keep them open.

Elmer G. Letterman

Without an acquaintance with the rules of propriety, it is impossible for the character to be established.

Confucius

During my eighty-seven years, I have witnessed a whole succession of technological revolutions. But none of them has done away with the need for character in the individual or the ability to think.

Baruch, Bernard M.

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.

Boardman, George D.

10.

The character of every act depends upon the circumstances in which it is done.

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

11.

Before you advise anyone Be yourself! reassess his character.

12.

Some people are born hammers, others anvils.

Proverb

13.

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.

Maurois, Andre

14.

The only way to compel men to speak good of us is to do it.

Voltaire

15.

Character develops itself in the stream of life.

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang Von

16.

Character - the willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life - is the source from which self respect springs.

Joan Didion

17.

You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.

James A. Froude

18.

When about to commit a base deed, respect thyself, though there is no witness.

Ausonius, Decimus Magnus

19.

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.

Thoreau, Henry David

20.

Temperance is a tree which as for its root very little contentment, and for its fruit calm and peace.

Buddha

21.

Character is simply habit long continued.

Plutarch

22.

Character is that which reveals moral purpose, exposing the class of things a man chooses or avoids.

Aristotle

23.

You must regulate your life by the standards you admire when you are at your best.

Thomas, John M.

24.

For character too is a process and an unfolding... among our valued friends is there not someone or other who is a little too self confident and disdainful; whose distinguished mind is a little spotted with commonness; who is a little pinched here and protuberant there with native prejudices; or whose better energies are liable to lapse down the wrong channel under the influence of transient solicitations?

Eliot, George

25.

To have character is to be big enough to take life on.

Richards, Mary Caroline

26.

The real character of a man is found out by his amusements.

Reynolds, Sir Joshua

27.

Not to be cheered by praise, not to be grieved by blame, but to know thoroughly ones own virtues or powers are the characteristics of an excellent man.

Pandita, Saskya

28.

Character isn't something you were born with and can't change, like your fingerprints. It's something you weren't born with and must take responsibility for forming.

Rohn, Jim

29.

A person reveals his character by nothing so clearly as the joke he resents.

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

30.

Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.

Michener, James A.

31.

Gross and obscure natures, however decorated, seem impure shambles; but character gives splendor to youth, and awe to wrinkled skin and gray hairs.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo

32.

Men of genius are admired, men of wealth are envied, men of power are feared; but only men of character are trusted.

33.

If you stand straight, do not fear a crooked shadow.

Proverb, Chinese

34.

Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended.

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De

35.

The hell to be endured hereafter, of which theology tells, is no worse than the hell we make for ourselves in this world by habitually fashioned our characters in the wrong way.

James, William

36.

Deep down, I'm pretty superficial.

Gardner, Ava

37.

Temperance is simply a disposition of the mind which binds the passion.

Aquinas, St. Thomas

38.

Character is formed in the stormy billows of the world.

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang Von

39.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.

Keller, Helen

40.

Nature magically suits a man to his fortunes, by making them the fruit of his character.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

41.

You must look into people, as well as at them.

Chesterfield, Lord

42.

Character matters; leadership descends from character.

Limbaugh, Rush

43.

The lord will not hold back the promises, even if the person who makes them is not worthy.

44.

Character is a by-product; it is produced in the great manufacture of daily duty.

Wilson, Woodrow T.

45.

He that has light within his own clear breast may sit in the center, and enjoy bright day: But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts benighted walks under the mid-day sun;

Milton, John

46.

The happiness of every country depends upon the character of its people, rather than the form of its government.

Haliburton, Thomas C.

47.

Character is made by many acts; it may be lost by a single one.

48.

Pity the man who has a character to support --it is worse than a large family -- he is silent poor indeed.

Thoreau, Henry David

49.

You can't go around hoping that most people have sterling moral characters. The most you can hope for is that people will pretend that they do.

Lebowitz, Fran