Motivational Quotes

Character

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

- Joan Didion

Best Quotes about Character

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

An excellent man, like precious metal, is in every way invariable; A villain, like the beams of a balance, is always varying, upwards and downwards, himself his own dungeon.

Pandita, Saskya

Clothes don't tell the character of the man, but they just as well talk for him as against him.

A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes another s.

Richter, Jean Paul

Some people are born hammers, others anvils.

Proverb

Character, not circumstances, makes the man.

Washington, Booker T.

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.

One can acquire everything in solitude - except character.

Marie Henri Beyle

A rich man has no need of character.

Proverb, Hebrew

10.

The empty vessel makes the loudest sound.

Shakespeare, William

11.

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

Howell, Harry

12.

A man's character is his fate.

Heraclitus

13.

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

Solon

14.

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

Angelou, Maya

15.

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

16.

Underneath this flabby exterior is an enormous lack of character.

Oscar Levant

17.

Though intelligence is powerless to modify character, it is a dab hand at finding euphemisms for its weaknesses.

Crisp, Quentin

18.

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

Fitzwater, P. B.

19.

While he was not as dumb as an ox, he was not any smarter either.

Thurber, James

20.

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.

21.

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

Emerson, Ralph Waldo

22.

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

23.

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

Thoreau, Henry David

24.

Character is like the foundation of a house -- it is below the surface.

25.

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.

26.

Fame is what you have taken, character is what you give. When to this truth you awaken, then you begin to live.

Taylor, Bayard

27.

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

Mason, John L.

28.

The character of a man is known from his conversations.

Menander

29.

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

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

30.

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

Hepburn, Katharine

31.

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

Disraeli, Benjamin

32.

Character is always lost when a high ideal is sacrificed on the altar of conformity and popularity.

33.

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

34.

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

Marden, Orison Swett

35.

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.

Churchill, Winston

36.

A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you, and were helped by you, will remember you when forget-me-nots are withered. Carve your name on hearts, and not on marble

Spurgeon, Charles Haddon

37.

Those who cross the sea change only the climate, not their character.

Horace

38.

The depth and strength of a human character are defined by its moral reserves. People reveal themselves completely only when they are thrown out of the customary conditions of their life, for only then do they have to fall back on their reserves.

Trotsky, Leon

39.

Character builds slowly, but it can be torn down with incredible swiftness.

Baldwin, Faith

40.

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

Francis Thompson

41.

If a man character is to be abused there's nobody like a relative to do the business.

Thackeray, William M.

42.

The higher character a person supports the more they should regard their smallest actions.

43.

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

Seneca

44.

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

45.

Nothing marks the character of a young man more than failure.

46.

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

47.

Character development is the aim of education.

O'Shea

48.

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

49.

The highest qualities of character must be earned.

Abbott, Lyman

50.

Few people can distinguish the genuinely good from the reverse.