Motivational Quotes

Character

I have often thought the best way to define a man's character would be to seek out the particular mental or moral attitude in which, when it comes upon him, he felt himself most deeply and intensely active and alive. At such moments there is a voice inside which speaks and says: This is the real me!.

- James, William

Best Quotes about Character

We don't love qualities, we love persons; sometimes by reason of their defects as well as of their qualities.

Maritain, Jacques

Men show their character in nothing more clearly than what they think laughable.

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang Von

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

Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo

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.

Sivananda, Sri Swami

Therefore keep in the midst of life. Do not isolate yourself. Be among men and things, and among troubles, and difficulties, and obstacles.

Drummond, Henry

Our character...is an omen of our destiny, and the more integrity we have and keep, the simpler and nobler that destiny is likely to be.

George Santayana

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

In attempts to improve your character, know what is in your power and what is beyond it.

Francis Thompson

10.

No artist work is so high, so noble, so grand, so enduring, so important for all time, as the making of character in a child.

Cushman, Charlotte Saunders

11.

The four cornerstones of character on which the structure of this nation was built are: initiative, imagination, individuality, and independence.

Rickenbacker, Edward Vernon

12.

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

Voltaire

13.

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

Thoreau, Henry David

14.

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

Confucius

15.

Character is the sum and total of a person's choices.

Fitzwater, P. B.

16.

My father told me that if you saw a man in a Rolls Royce you could be sure he was not a gentleman unless he was the chauffeur.

Arran, Earl of

17.

Integrity has no need of rules.

Camus, Albert

18.

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

19.

Football doesn't build character. It eliminates weak ones.

Royal, Darrell

20.

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

21.

To keep your character intact you cannot stoop to filthy acts. It makes it easier to stoop the next time.

Hepburn, Katharine

22.

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

23.

Show me the man you honor, and I will know what kind of a man you are. It shows me what your ideal of manhood is, and what kind of a man you long to be.

Carlyle, Thomas

24.

One can easily judge the character of a person by the way they treat people who can do nothing for them.

Proverb

25.

Good character is like a rubber ball -- thrown down hard -- it bounces right back. Good reputation is like a crystal ball -- thrown for gain -- shattered and cracked.

Linall Jr. A. L.

26.

Character is the indelible mark that determines the only true value of all people and all their work.

Marden, Orison Swett

27.

Some people are born hammers, others anvils.

Proverb

28.

Our character is basically a composite of our habits. Because they are consistent, often unconcious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character

Covey, Stephen R.

29.

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

30.

Old age and sickness bring out the essential characteristics of a man.

Frankfurter, Felix

31.

It is better for the development of character and contentment to do certain things badly for yourself than to have them done better for you by someone else.

32.

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. [Proverbs 23:7]

Bible

33.

I could never think well of a man's intellectual or moral character, if he was habitually unfaithful to his appointments.

Nathaniel Emmons

34.

It isn't the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog, that counts.

Howell, Harry

35.

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

Joan Didion

36.

Characters do not change. Opinions alter, but characters are only developed.

Disraeli, Benjamin

37.

Character, in great and little things, means carrying through what you feel able to do.

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang Von

38.

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

39.

Character is the impulse reined down into steady continuance.

Parkhurst, Charles H.

40.

If all I'm remembered for is being a good basketball player, then I've done a bad job with the rest of my life.

Thomas, Isiah

41.

If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how -- the very best I can. And I mean to keep on doing it to the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me will not amount to anything. If the end brings me out all wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.

Lincoln, Abraham

42.

Be thou incapable of change in that which is right, and men will rely upon thee. Establish unto thyself principles of action; and see that thou ever act according to them. First know that thy principles are just, and then be thou

Akhenaton

43.

The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Macaulay, Thomas B.

44.

While an original is always hard to find, he is easy to recognize.

Mason, John L.

45.

People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo

46.

You can tell the character of every man when you see how he receives praise.

Seneca

47.

Character development is the aim of education.

O'Shea

48.

Testimony is like an arrow shot from a long bow and the force of it depends on the strength of the arm from which it was shot. Argument is like a bullet fired from a gun and has equal force even when issued from a child.

49.

Your character will be what you yourself choose to make it.

Lubbock, Sir John

50.

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

Aristotle