Quotes About Character

Then the only proper response for me to make is this: 'You are much mistaken, my friend, if you think that any man worth his salt cares about the risk of death and doesn't concentrate on this alone: whether what he's doing is right or wrong, and his behavior a good man's or a bad one's.' 

What, then, should we strive for in life? Right thoughts, beneficial actions, honest speech, and a cheerful disposition. These things are in harmony with, and flow from, the eternal Source of all.

Let it not be in any man's power, to say truly of thee, that thou art not truly simple, or sincere and open, or not good. Let him be deceived whosoever he be that shall have any such opinion of thee. For all this doth depend of thee. For who is it that should hinder thee from being either truly simple or good? Do thou only resolve rather not to live, than not to be such.

But Marcus Aurelius knows that what the heart is full of, the man will do.

While you live—while you can—be a good man.

37. Disgraceful: that the mind should control the face, should be able to shape and mold it as it pleases, but not shape and mold itself.

Did someone do me wrong? That's their problem—they harmed their own character, not mine. I will stay focused on my own thoughts and actions.

It is a ridiculous thing for a man not to fly from his own badness, which is indeed possible, but to fly from other men's badness, which is impossible.

Desde el alba hay que decirse con énfasis a uno mismo: me toparé con el entrometido, con el desagradecido, con el soberbio, con el taimado, con el malicioso, el insociable. Todos

Conviene, por consiguiente, mantenerse recto, no enderezado.

Say this to yourself in the morning: Today I shall have to do with meddlers, with the ungrateful, with the insolent, with the crafty, with the envious and the selfish.

Let no one have the chance to accuse you, with any truth, of not being sincere or a good man. Make sure that anyone taking that view of you is a liar. This is wholly up to you -- who is there to prevent you being good and sincere?

I observed that everybody believed that he thought as he spoke, and that in all that he did he never had any bad intention; and he never showed amazement and surprise, and was never in a hurry, and never put off doing a thing, nor was perplexed nor dejected, nor did he ever laugh to disguise his vexation, nor, on the other hand, was he ever passionate or suspicious.

A man when he has done a good act, does not call out for others to come and see, but he goes on to another act, as a vine goes on to produce again the grapes in season.

La perfección del carácter supone que cada día transcurra como el último, sin palpitos, sin cabezadas, sin actuaciones teatrales.

It can ruin your life only if it ruins your character.

The highest good was the virtuous life. Virtue alone is happiness, and vice is unhappiness.

Try how the life of the good man suits thee, the life of him who is satisfied with his portion out of the whole, and satisfied with his own just acts and benevolent disposition.

that to expect a bad person not to harm others is like expecting fig trees not to secrete juice, babies not to cry, horses not to neigh—the inevitable not to happen. What else could they do—with that sort of character?

that to expect a bad person not to harm others is like expecting fig trees not to secrete juice, babies not to cry, horses not to neigh—the inevitable not to happen. What else could they do—with that sort of character? If you're still angry, then get to work on that. 17.

always, whether in the sharpest pains, or after the loss of a child, or in long diseases, to be still the same man;

It was my tutor who dissuaded me from patronizing Green or Blue at the races, or Light or Heavy in the ring;

thank the gods for giving me such a brother, who was able by his moral character to rouse me to vigilance over myself, and who, at the same time, pleased me by his respect and affection;

13. Someone despises me. That's their problem. Mine: not to do or say anything despicable. Someone hates me. Their problem. Mine: to be patient and cheerful with everyone, including them. Ready to show them their mistake. Not spitefully, or to show off my own self-control, but in an honest, upright way.