A talent is formed in stillness, a character in the world's torrent

A talent is formed in stillness, a character in the world's torrent
By: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence
By: Abraham Lincoln


The analysis of character is the highest human entertainment
By: Isaac Bashevis Singer


One never gets to know a person's character better than by watching his behavior during decisive moments
By: Stefan Zweig


A man's character never changes radically from youth to old age What happens is that circumstances bring out characteristics which have not been obvious to the superficial observer
By: Hesketh Pearson


Each of us is meant to have a character all our own, to be what no other can exactly be, and do what no other can exactly do
By: William Ellery Channing


Character is something you forge for yourself; temperament is something you are born with and can only slightly modify
By: Sydney J Harris


Simplicity of character is no hindrance to the subtlety of intellect
By: John Morley


No man can climb out beyond the limitations of his own character
By: John Morley


Of all the properties which belong to honourable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character
By: Henry Clay


You can construct the character of a man and his age not only from what he does and says, but from what he fails to say and do
By: Norman Douglas


I appreciate people who are civil, whether they mean it or not. I think: Be civil. Do not cherish your opinion over my feelings. There's a vanity to candor that isn't really worth it. Be kind.
By: Richard Greenberg, NY Times Magazine, 03-26-2006



Nature magically suits a man to his fortunes, by making them the fruit of his character.
By: Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)


Underneath this flabby exterior is an enormous lack of character.
By: Oscar Levant (1906 - 1972)


The character of every act depends upon the circumstances in which it is done.
By: Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (1841 - 1935)


I could never think well of a man's intellectual or moral character, if he was habitually unfaithful to his appointments.
By: Nathaniel Emmons


The character of a man is known from his conversations.
By: Menander (342 BC - 292 BC)


To succeed is nothing, it's an accident. but to feel no doubts about oneself is something very different: it is character.
By: Marie Leneru, Oprah Magazine, May 2004


One can acquire everything in solitude - except character.
By: Marie Henri Beyle (1783 - 1842)


I take it as a man's duty to restrain himself.
By: Lois McMaster Bujold, Ethan of Athos, 1986


Character - the willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life - is the source from which self respect springs.
By: Joan Didion (1934 - ), "Slouching Towards Bethlehem"


The farther behind I leave the past, the closer I am to forging my own character.
By: Isabelle Eberhardt


People with courage and character always seem sinister to the rest.
By: Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)


Our character...is an omen of our destiny, and the more integrity we have and keep, the simpler and nobler that destiny is likely to be.
By: George Santayana (1863 - 1952), "The German Mind: A Philosophical Diagnosis"


In attempts to improve your character, know what is in your power and what is beyond it.
By: Francis Thompson (1859 - 1907)


Personality can open doors, but only character can keep them open.
By: Elmer G. Letterman