Quotes About Character

Tolstoy teaches us that compassion is of value and enriches our life only when compassion is severe, which is to say when we can perceive everything that is good and bad about a character but are still able to feel that the sum of us as human beings is probably a little more good than awful. In any case, good or bad, it reminds us that life is like a gladiators' arena for the soul and so we can feel strengthened by those who endure, and feel awe and pity for those who do not.

Characters in novels sometimes radiate more energy, therefore, when we don't enter their mind. It is one of the techniques a novelist acquires instinctively—don't go into your protagonist's thoughts until you have something to say about his or her inner life that is more interesting than the reader's suppositions.

Kerouac lacks discipline, intelligence, honesty and a sense of the novel. His rhythms are erratic, his sense of character is nil, and he is as pretentious as a rich whore, sentimental as a lollypop.

Masculinity is not something given to you, but something you gain. And you gain it by winning small battles with honor.

Tolstoy teaches us that compassion is of value and enriches our life only when compassion is severe, which is to say that we can perceive everything that is good and bad about a character but are still able to feel that the sum of us as human beings is probably a little more good than awful. In any case, good or bad, it reminds us that life is like a gladiators' arena for the soul and so we can feel strengthened by those who endure, and feel awe and pity for those who do not.

No, just as Marlon Brando seemed to inhabit a role as though it were a natural extension of his mood, so Ali treated boxing.

A man lays his character on the line when he writes a novel. Anything in him which is lazy, or meretricious, or unthought-out, complacent, fearful, overambitious, or terrified by the ultimate logic of his exploration will be revealed in his book.

The terrible, exasperating thing about humans is how goodness and gentleness, and utter depravity and disregard for human life, can be contained within the same person, and in terrifyingly close proximity.

I may never wind up being anything, but I owe it to myself to build my integrity.

People who belittle people, will be LITTLE people, and will accomplish very Little

One never does wrong by doing right.

The sure way to success is so simple, but it requires character, guts, persistence, the mastery of lower jobs to be ready for the better ones.

Your personality means the aspect of yourself which makes you effective in life. It is evident that there are two aspects of effectiveness of individuality. First, how do you affect or stimulate others? This is your stimulation value. Second, how do others affect you? How do you respond to others? That is your response aspect of value. Put these together, your effect upon others and others' effect upon you, and that is virtually your personality.

And you only have one face." "Is that bad?" asked Milo, making sure it was still there. "You'll soon wear it out using it for everything," replied the Dodecahedron.

The words you speak show exactly the shape that your inner man is in.

As?l önemli olan baz? insanlar?n benim hakk?mda kötü ÅŸeyler söylemeleri deÄŸil, benim iyi ÅŸeyler yapmam.

It ain't the roads we take; it's what's inside of us that makes us turn out the way we do.

Tell me how you die and I will tell you who you are.

Sanctification includes a growing resemblance to the likeness of christ

Sound character provides the power with which a person may ride the emergencies of life instead of being overwhelmed by them. Failure is... the highway to success.

We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.

True wealth is of the heart, not of the purse.

Thus, the first law I will obey, which precedeth all others is—I will form good habits and become their slave.

It will become stronger and more protective with use until one day I will cast it aside and walk unencumbered among all manners of men and, when I do, my name will be raised high on the pyramid of life.