Motivational Quotes

Character

Underneath this flabby exterior is an enormous lack of character.

- Oscar Levant

Best Quotes about 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

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

Goldsmith, Oliver

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.

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

Hepburn, Katharine

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

Lubbock, Sir John

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

Elmer G. Letterman

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

Thoreau, Henry David

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

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

Taylor, Bayard

10.

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

11.

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

Confucius

12.

Character is the result of a system of stereotyped principles.

Hume, David

13.

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

14.

Wealth stays with us a little moment if at all: only our characters are steadfast, not our gold.

Euripides

15.

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

16.

Some people are born hammers, others anvils.

Proverb

17.

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

Solon

18.

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

Frankfurter, Felix

19.

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

Horace

20.

There is never a better measure of what a person is than what he does when he is absolutely free to choose.

Bulger, William M.

21.

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

22.

I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

King Jr. Martin Luther

23.

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

Peter The Great

24.

Character is victory organized.

Bonaparte, Napoleon

25.

Talents are best nurtured in solitude. Character is best formed in the stormy billows of the world.

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang Von

26.

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

27.

Character in a saint means the disposition of Jesus Christ persistently manifested.

Chambers, Oswald

28.

Before you advise anyone Be yourself! reassess his character.

29.

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

30.

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

31.

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

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang Von

32.

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.

33.

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

34.

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

Emerson, Ralph Waldo

35.

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

36.

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

Thackeray, William M.

37.

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

38.

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

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

39.

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.

40.

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

Disraeli, Benjamin

41.

Character is the impulse reined down into steady continuance.

Parkhurst, Charles H.

42.

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.

43.

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

Chesterfield, Lord

44.

Strong characters are brought out by change of situation, and gentle ones by permanence.

Richter, Jean Paul

45.

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

Bible

46.

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

Estrange, L.

47.

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

Voltaire

48.

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

49.

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

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De

50.

Faced with crisis, the man of character falls back on himself. He imposes his own stamp of action, takes responsibility for it, makes it his own.

Gaulle, Charles De