Motivational Quotes

Character

Character is simply habit long continued.

- Plutarch

Best Quotes about Character

The superior man will watch over himself when he is alone. He examines his heart that there may be nothing wrong there, and that he may have no cause of dissatisfaction with himself.

Confucius

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

Proverb, Chinese

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.

Bounds, E. M.

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

Clear conscience never fears midnight knocking.

Proverb, Chinese

Life every man holds dear; but the dear man holds honor far more precious dear than life.

Shakespeare, William

I would rather be adorned by beauty of character than jewels. Jewels are the gift of fortune, while character comes from within.

Plautus, Titus Maccius

You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jelly beans.

Reagan, Ronald

Wherever man goes to dwell his character goes with him.

Proverb, African

10.

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

11.

Some people are born hammers, others anvils.

Proverb

12.

To succeed is nothing, it's an accident. but to feel no doubts about oneself is something very different: it is character.

Marie Leneru

13.

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

Howell, Harry

14.

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

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

15.

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

Royal, Darrell

16.

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

Joan Didion

17.

I appreciate people who are civil, whether they mean it or not. I think: Be civil. Do not cherish your opinion over my feelings. There's a vanity to candor that isn't really worth it. Be kind.

Richard Greenberg

18.

The highest qualities of character must be earned.

Abbott, Lyman

19.

Strong feelings do not necessarily make a strong character. The strength of a man is to be measured by the power of the feelings he subdues not by the power of those which subdue him.

William Carleton

20.

The character of a man is known from his conversations.

Menander

21.

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

Aquinas, St. Thomas

22.

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

Thoreau, Henry David

23.

As fire when thrown into water is cooled down and put out, so also a false accusation when brought against a man of the purest and holiest character, boils over and is at once dissipated, and vanishes and threats of heaven and sea, himself standing unmoved.

Cicero, Marcus T.

24.

A man's character is the reality of himself; his reputation, the opinion others have formed about him; character resides in him, reputation in other people; that is the substance, this is the shadow.

Beecher, Henry Ward

25.

The man who cannot believe in himself cannot believe in anything else. The basis of all integrity and character is whatever faith we have in our own integrity.

Smith, Roy L.

26.

Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath.

Solon

27.

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

Haliburton, Thomas C.

28.

Honor is the inner garment of the Soul; the first thing put on by it with the flesh, and the last it layeth down at its separation from it.

Akhenaton

29.

There is no greater index of character so sure as the voice.

Disraeli, Benjamin

30.

We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it.

Lincoln, Abraham

31.

We know but a few men, a great many coats and breeches.

Thoreau, Henry David

32.

How difficult it is to save the bark of reputation from the rocks of ignorance.

Petrarch, Francesco

33.

You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips.

Goldsmith, Oliver

34.

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

35.

One can acquire everything in solitude - except character.

Marie Henri Beyle

36.

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

Elmer G. Letterman

37.

You don't get in life what you want; you get in life what you are.

Brown, Les

38.

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.

39.

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

40.

It takes a great deal of character strength to apologize quickly out of one's heart rather than out of pity. A person must possess himself and have a deep sense of security in fundamental principles and values in order to genuinely apologize.

Covey, Stephen R.

41.

A man's character is his fate.

Heraclitus

42.

The quality of strength lined with tenderness is an unbeatable combination, as are intelligence and necessity when unblunted by formal education.

Angelou, Maya

43.

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

Voltaire

44.

Too many lives are needed to make just one.

Montale, Eugenio

45.

Before you advise anyone Be yourself! reassess his character.

46.

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

47.

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.

Strindberg, J. August

48.

You can buy a person's time; you can buy their physical presence at a given place; you can even buy a measured number of their skilled muscular motions per hour. But you can not buy enthusiasm... you can not buy loyalty. You can not buy the devotion of hearts, minds, or souls. You must earn these.

Francis, Clarence

49.

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.

Luther, John

50.

I have conquered an empire but I have not been able to conquer myself.

Peter The Great