Quotes About Character

In his case, what had been hardness became cruelty, while a tendency to bluff became plain dishonesty. He often lied without hesitation and assumed that others lied to him.

In this period the Prime Minister had great confidence in the Fuehrer's word, remarking privately a day or two later, "In spite of the hardness and ruthlessness I thought I saw in his face, I got the impression that here was a man who could be relied upon when he had given his word."46

Volunteering's an early and strong indication that you're not suited," he said.

A truly great man never puts away the simplicity of a child.*

Do not consider any vice as trivial, and therefore practise it; do not consider any virtue as unimportant, and therefore neglect it.

The man of first rate excellence is virtuous in spite of instruction; he of the middle class is so after instruction; the lowest order of men are vicious in spite of instruction.

The man of worth is really great without being proud; the mean man is proud without being really great.

A man should choose a friend who is better than himself. There are plenty of acquaintances in the world; but very few real friends.

A true warrior, like tea, shows his strength in hot water.

Tiger father begets tiger son.

Gold cannot be pure, and people cannot be perfect.

A fool judges people by the presents they give him.

Do not employ handsome servants.

Judge not the horse by his saddle.

The man who comes with a tale about others has himself an ax to grind.

There is many a good man to be found under a shabby hat.

Distance tests a horse's strength. Time reveals a person's character.

Gold is tested by fire, man by gold

Just as tall trees are known by their shadows, so are good men known by their enemies.

As the Chinese proverb goes, 'Real gold does not fear the test of fire.

What is modesty but inverted pride?

One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised.

Frey's challenge to walk the grounds already added a sense of play to the moment. What if he had also given them a "character" to role-play during their observations?

In this chapter, we've seen that what looks like a "character problem" is often correctible when you change the environment.