Motivational Quotes

Character

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

- Rickenbacker, Edward Vernon

Best Quotes about Character

Character is the impulse reined down into steady continuance.

Parkhurst, Charles H.

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

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang Von

One stumble is enough to deface the character of an honorable life.

Estrange, L.

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

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

Disraeli, Benjamin

All men are alike in their lower natures; it is in their higher characters that they differ.

Bovee, Christian Nevell

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

Richards, Mary Caroline

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.

There's a fine line between character building and soul destroying.

Hay, Colin

10.

Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

11.

Few people can distinguish the genuinely good from the reverse.

Juvenal, (Decimus Junius Juvenalis)

12.

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

13.

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

14.

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

15.

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.

16.

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

17.

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

Emerson, Ralph Waldo

18.

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

19.

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

Baldwin, Faith

20.

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

Reynolds, Sir Joshua

21.

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

22.

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

Mason, John L.

23.

Character is another thing that is formed in youth and reformed in marriage.

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.

A man's character is his fate.

Heraclitus

26.

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

Horace

27.

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

28.

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

29.

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.

Babson, Roger

30.

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

Reagan, Ronald

31.

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

Seneca

32.

The best index to a person's character is (a) how he treats people who can't do him any good, and (b) how he treats people who can't fight back.

Buren, Abigail Van

33.

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

Solon

34.

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

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang Von

35.

To be fond of learning is near to wisdom; to practice with vigor is near to benevolence; and to be conscious of shame is near to fortitude. He who knows these three things

Confucius

36.

If anyone tells you someone has changed their character; don't believe it.

Mohammed

37.

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

38.

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

39.

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

Ralph Waldo Emerson

40.

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

Ausonius, Decimus Magnus

41.

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

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

42.

Character is to man what carbon is to steel.

Hill, Napoleon

43.

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

Rickenbacker, Edward Vernon

44.

One can acquire everything in solitude - except character.

Marie Henri Beyle

45.

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

Royal, Darrell

46.

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

Thackeray, William M.

47.

Look, we're all the same; a man is a fourteen-room house --in the bedroom he's asleep with his intelligent wife, in the living-room he's rolling around with some bareass girl, in the library he's paying his taxes, in the yard he's raising tomatoes, and in the cellar he's making a bomb to blow it all up.

Miller, Arthur

48.

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

Voltaire

49.

Character develops itself in the stream of life.

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang Von

50.

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