Quotes About Character

in most of us, by the age of 30, the character has set like plaster, and will never soften again. (William James)...we are not forced to accept the hardening of our field of knowledge, a kind of psychosclerosis. There is no disgrace in not knowing everything. The problem is being unwilling to reach beyond what one knows to a broader, fuller reality.

Every man has his price. For some it's money, for some it's women, for others glory. But the honest man you don't have to buy - he winds up costing you nothing.

We may not ever understand why we suffer or be able to control the forces that cause our suffering, but we can have a lot to say about what suffering does to us, and what sort of people we become because of it. Pain makes some people bitter and envious. It makes others sensitive and compassionate. It is the result, not the cause, of pain that makes some experiences of pain meaningful and others empty and destructive.

find God in the willingness of so many people to do the right thing, even when the right thing is difficult, expensive, or unappreciated, and to reject the wrong thing no matter how tempting or profitable.

Until I die, I will maintain my integrity. (27:2–5) This

Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are

unwanted notoriety to La Porte. It was not his purpose, said Smith, either "to defend the character of Belle Gunness" or "to drag it down." From the "dismembered bodies of nine persons [that] were found

the Norwegians of Chicago were widely regarded as a frugal, industrious, and upstanding people, who enhanced the moral character of the metropolis.

The virtuous man is contempt to dream what the wicked man really does.

It's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you.

I was born good but had grown progressively worse every year. Scout

What makes saintliness in my view, as distinguished from ordinary goodness, is a certain quality of magnanimity and greatness of soul that brings life within the circle of the heroic.

And, perhaps, among us may be found generous spirits, who do not estimate honour and justice by dollars and cents.

The woman did not sob nor weep. She had gone to a place where tears are dry; but every one around her was, in some way characteristic of themselves, showing signs of hearty sympathy.

Once in an age God sends to some of us a friend who loves in us, not a false-imagining, an unreal character, but looking through the rubbish of our imperfections, loves in us the divine ideal of our nature,--loves, not the man that we are, but the angel that we may be.

Religion is a temper, not a pursuit.

My goal was just to work regularly. I didn't ever expect to be rich or famous. I wanted to be a working character actor.

Intolerance, it seems to me, is taught and is not inherent in man's character. It is taught at a young age by overprotective elders, by unfortunate examples, and by poor-mouthing differences rather than exulting in the excitement of their presence.

You owe it to yourself to be the best person possible. Because if you are, others will want to be with you, want to provide you with the things you want in exchange for what you're giving to them.

He had one of those good country voices: part drunk, part hound dog, part angel.

The steady discipline of intimate friendship with Jesus results in men becoming like Him.

It is very hard to be a hypocrite if you aren't trained for it.

We weten dat hij nooit een concentratiekamp, laat staan een vernietigingskamp heeft bezocht. Dat liet hij over aan Himmler, de baas van de SS en de politie. Laat ik aannemen, dat hij op een dag besloot in Auschwitz te gaan kijken naar de dagelijkse vergassing van duizenden mannen, vrouwen en kinderen, die hij had bevolen. Hoe had hij op die aanblik gereageerd? Maar daarvoor moet ik zijn karakter veranderen, want dat is nu juist wat hij nooit gedaan heeft, en dan had ik hem weer niet begrepen.

It has been my honor to support and work with President Barack Obama, a man who has brought courage and character to the presidency. President Obama's strength of character leads him to do the right thing, even when it isn't the easy thing.