Quotes on Character

A man is like a bit of Labrador spar, which has no luster as you turn it in your hand, until you come to a particular angle; then it shows deep and beautiful colors.

Similarly the men who produce works of genius are not those who live in the most delicate atmosphere, whose conversation is most brilliant, or their culture broadest, but those who have had the power, ceasing in a moment to live only for themselves, to make use of their personality as of a mirror.

Manhood and sagacity ripen of themselves; it suffices not to repress or distort them.

A woman of generous character will sacrifice her life a thousand times over for her lover, but will break with him for ever over a question of pride.

Repose and cheerfulness is the badge of the gentleman; repose in energy.

Every epoch has its character determined by the way its population reacts to the material events which they encounter.

For a great nature, it is a happiness to escape a religious training; religion of character is so apt to be invaded.

Character is tested by true sentiments more than by conduct. A man is seldom better than his word.

What a man is depends on his character; but what he does, and what we think of what he does, depends on his circumstances.

The victories of character are instant, and victories for all.

How hard you work at correcting your faults reveals your character.

Becoming rich isn't as much about getting rich financially as about whom you become, in character and mind, to get rich.

In this world a man must either be anvil or hammer.

Simplicity in character, in manners, in style; in all things the supreme excellence is simplicity.

When one of my characters becomes aware of a magical element, it might be because the world is wider than we assume it to be, but it might also be a reminder to pay attention to what is here already, hidden only because it's been forgotten.

First class in life has nothing to do with the clothes you wear, the car you drive or the house you live in. First class is and always will be about the content of your character, the quality of your ideas and the kindness in your heart.

To me there never has been a higher source of honour or distinction than that connected with advances in science. I have not possessed enough of the eagle in my character to make a direct flight to the loftiest altitudes in the social world; and I certainly never endeavored to reach those heights by using the creeping powers of the reptile, who in ascending, generally chooses the dirtiest path, because it is the easiest.

Pity the man who has a character to support - it is worse than a large family - he is silent poor indeed.

Happiness, whether consisting in pleasure or virtue, or both, is more often found with those who are highly cultivated in their minds and in their character, and have only a moderate share of external goods, than among those who possess external goods to a useless extent but are deficient in higher qualities.

What comes out of your mouth is determined by what goes into your mind.

You get to know more of the character of a man in a round of golf than in six months of political experience.