Character Quotes
Strong feelings do not necessarily make a strong character. The strength of a man is to be measured by the power of the feelings he subdues not by the power of those which subdue him.William Carleton
The delicate thing about the university is that it has a mixed character, that it is suspended between its position in the eternal world, with all its corruption and evils and cruelties, and the splendid world of our imagination.Richard Hofstadte
If every age has its own characteristic doctrine, there are a thousand signs which point to Fascism as the characteristic doctrine of our time.Benito Mussolini, The Political and Social Doctrine of Fascism, 1935
The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way.Henry David Thoreau
A person reveals his character by nothing so clearly as the joke he resents.Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
In later life, as in earlier, only a few persons influence the formation of our character the multitude pass us by like a distant army.Jean Paul Friedrich Richte
History is made at night. Character is what you are in the dark.Lord John Whorfin
If we take the route of the permanent handout, the American character will itself be impoverished. Proposal to reform welfare programs.Richard Milhous Nixon
The universe seems bankrupt as soon as we begin to discuss the characters of individuals.Henry David Thoreau
Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind.Samuel Johnson
It is the characteristic excellence of the strong man that he can bring momentous issues to the fore and make a decision about them. The weak are always forced to decide between alternatives they have not chosen themselves.Dietrich Bonhoeffe
It is characteristic of all deep human problems that they are not to be approached without some humor and some bewilderment.Freeman John Dyson
To be a book - Collector is to combine the worst characteristics of a dope fiend with those of a miser.Robertson Davies, "The Table Talk of Samuel Marchbanks".
In attempts to improve your character, know what is in your power and what is beyond it.Francis Thompson
Put more trust in nobility of character than in an oath.Solon
I have a dream, that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.Martin Luther King, Jr.
Bear in mind that brains and learning, like muscle and physical skill, are articles of commerce. They are bought and sold. You can hire them by the year or by the hour. The only thing in the world not for sale is character.Antonin Scalia
History is the record of an encounter between character and circumstances.Donald Creighton
Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and griefs which we endure help us in our marching onward.Henry Ford
Knowledge is essential to conquest; only according to our ignorance are we helpless. Thought creates character. Character can dominate conditions. Will creates circumstances and environment.Anne Besant
Being another character is more interesting than being yourself.Sir John Gielgud
It has been observed that a pure democracy if it were practicable would be the most perfect government. Experience has proved that no position is more false than this. The ancient democracies in which the people themselves deliberated never possessed one good feature of government. Their very character was tyranny; their figure deformity.Alexander Hamilton, Speech on 21 June 1788 urging ratification of the Constitution in New York.
Thoughts lead on to purposes purposes go forth in action actions form habits habits decide character and character fixes our destiny.Tryon Edwards
Boredom is a sign of satisfied ignorance, blunted apprehension, crass sympathies, dull understanding, feeble powers of attention, and irreclaimable weakness of character.James Bridie
People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.Eleanor Roosevelt, My Day
In all the affairs of life, social as well as political, courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest to the grateful and appreciating heart.Henry Clay
A man is what he is, not what men say he is. His character no man can touch. His character is what he is before his God and his Judge; and only he himself can damage that. His reputations what men say he is. That can be damaged; but reputation is for time, character is for eternity.John Ballantine Gough
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.Helen Kelle
Certainly it is a world of scarcity. But the scarcity is not confined to iron ore and available land. The most constricting scarcities are those of character and personality.William R Allen
A good novel is an indivisible sum; every scene, sequence and passage of a good novel has to involve, contribute to and advance all three of its major attributes: theme, plot, characterization.Ayn Rand, The Romantic Manifesto p. 74 (pb 93)
