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Character is the essence of all that a man has seen in life and regards as high and exalted. Character is like truth: the substance of the things that a man has forgotten but the substance of the things that are worth remembering in life.
Douglas Southall Freeman
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Character encompasses a person's highest values and memories, shaping their essence.

This quote emphasizes the fundamental role of character in a person's life. It suggests that character is built from experiences and values that one holds dear, often reflecting on those aspects that, though sometimes forgotten, are truly significant and worthy of remembrance as they define who we are in essence.

Themes

CharacterEssenceValuesLifeTruth

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about ethical leadership, one might reference this quote to illustrate the importance of character.

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What is character? It is that quality of man which is going to make a man, in an hour of strain, do the just and, if possible, the generous thing.
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