Quotes About Character

The prevailin weakness of most public men is to SLOP OVER! Washington never slopt over.

The ideal state is meekness, or humility, or the semi-invalid state of the old. Year after year I am becoming nobler and nobler. If I can live to be decrepit enough, I shall be a saint.

For however I may in former days as a young man have liked the notice which the being in a great man's train secures one, now that I have a fixed character of my own, obscurity is far the most agreeable.

More than all, and above all, [George] Washington was master of himself. If there be one quality more than another in his character which may exercise a useful control over the men of the present hour, it is the total disregard of self when in the most elevated positions for influence and example.

More than all, and above all, Washington was master of himself.

I should regret very much to have you miss the glorious feeling of accomplishment and I know you are not going to let me down. Remember that often adversity is a blessing in disguise and is certainly the greatest character builder.

that this was a lesson my father impressed on me at an early age: "Often adversity is a blessing in disguise and is certainly the greatest character builder." Fred Koch's

When you see a man with a great deal of religion displayed in his shop window, you may depend upon it, he keeps a very small stock of it within

Humility is to make a right estimate of one's self.

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

Brave actions never want a trumpet.

A boaster and a liar are cousins.

Live truth instead of professing it.

For indeed the fact is, that there are idle poor and idle rich; and there are busy poor and busy rich.... in a large view, the distinction between workers and idlers, as between knaves and honest men, runs through the very heart and innermost economies of men of all ranks and in all positions. There is a working class — strong and happy — among both rich and poor; there is an idle class — weak, wicked, and miserable — among both rich and poor.

No one of good character leaves behind a wasted life — whether they die in obscurity or renown.... Your character is what you are to yourself, not what you pretend to be to yourself or others. Although human beings often attempt self-delusion, we cannot forever hide the truth about ourselves from ourselves. It will make itself known to us by means of our conscience despite our most strenuous effort to suppress it.

The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour.

The universe seems bankrupt as soon as we begin to discuss the character of individuals.

Character is higher than intellect.

Goodness is the only investment that never fails.

In order to be remembered, leave nothing behind but goodness.

A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not.

But I think it is hardly an argument against a man's general strength of character, that he should be apt to be mastered by love. A fine constitution doesn't insure one against small-pox or any other of those inevitable diseases. A man may be very firm in other matters, and yet be under a sort of witchery from a woman.

No man can tell whether he is rich or poor by turning to his ledger. It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has.

From our ancestors come our names, but from our virtues our honors.