An aphorism is nothing else but the slightest
QUOTES AND APHORISMS ON CHARACTER 2
If a person has built a sound character, it makes but little difference what people say about him, because he will win in the end.
Napoleon Hill (1883-1970, American speaker, author, "Think And Grow Rich")
Are we controlled by our thoughts, or are we controlling our thoughts?
Raymond Holliwell
Those who cross the sea change only the climate, not their character.
Horace (BC 65-8, Italian poet)
Character is power. It makes friends, draws patronage and support, and opens the way to wealth, honor and happiness.
John Howe
It isn't the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog, that counts.
Harry Howell
Character is the result of two things: mental attitude and the way we spend our time.
Elbert Hubbard (1859-1915, American author, publisher)
Character is the result of a system of stereotyped principles.
David Hume (1711-1776, Scottish philosopher, historian)
What is character but the determination of incident? What is incident but the illustration of character?
Henry James (1843-1916, American author)
I have often thought the best way to define a man's character would be to seek out the particular mental or moral attitude in which, when it comes upon him, he felt himself most deeply and intensely active and alive. At such moments there is a voice inside which speaks and says: "This is the real me!".
William James (1842-1910, American psychologist, professor, author)
It is well for the world that in most of us, by the age of thirty, the character has set like plaster, and will never soften again.
William James (1842-1910, American psychologist, professor, author)
No matter how full a reservoir of maxims one may possess, and no matter how good one's sentiments may be, if one has not taken advantage of every concrete opportunity to act, one's character may remain entirely unaffected for the better.
William James (1842-1910, American psychologist, professor, author)
The hell to be endured hereafter, of which theology tells, is no worse than the hell we make for ourselves in this world by habitually fashioned our characters in the wrong way.
William James (1842-1910, American psychologist, professor, author)
It is part of the American character to consider nothing as desperate -- to surmount every difficulty by resolution and contrivance.
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826, American President (3rd))
Few people can distinguish the genuinely good from the reverse.
(Decimus Junius Juvenalis) Juvenal (c.55-c.130, Roman satirical poet)
Every man has three characters -- that which he exhibits, that which he has, and that which he thinks he has.
Alphonse Karr
Everyone has three characters, that which they exhibit, that which they have, and that which they think they have.
Alphonse Karr
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.
Helen Keller (1880-1968, American blind/deaf author, lecturer, amorist)
By two wings a man is lifted up from things earthly: simplicity and purity.
Thomas a Kempis (1379-1471, German monk, mystic, religious writer)
I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968, American Civil Rights leader, Nobel Prize winner, 1964)
As favor and riches forsake a man, we discover in him the foolishness they concealed, and which no one perceived before.
Jean De La Bruyere (1645-1696, French classical writer)
It is fortunate to be of high birth, but it is no less so to be of such character that people do not care to know whether you are or are not.
Jean De La Bruyere (1645-1696, French classical writer)
It's motive alone which gives character to the actions of men.
Jean De La Bruyere (1645-1696, French classical writer)
It is not enough to have great qualities; we should also have the management of them.
Francois De La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680, French classical writer)
It is only persons of firmness that can have real gentleness. Those who appear gentle are, in general, only a weak character, which easily changes into asperity.
Francois De La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680, French classical writer)
Arrogance on the part of the meritorious is even more offensive to us than the arrogance of those without merit: for merit itself is offensive.
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900, German philosopher)
Arrogance on the part of the meritorious is even more offensive to us than the arrogance of those without merit: for merit itself is offensive.
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900, German philosopher)
Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended.
Francois De La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680, French classical writer)
Keep in mind that the true measure of an individual is how he treats a person who can do him absolutely no good.
Ann Landers (1918-, American advice columnist)
Action, looks, words, steps, form the alphabet by which you may spell character.
Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741-1801, Swiss theologian, mystic)
You are not very good if you are not better than your best friends imagine you to be.
Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741-1801, Swiss theologian, mystic)
You can't go around hoping that most people have sterling moral characters. The most you can hope for is that people will pretend that they do.
Fran Lebowitz (1951-, American journalist)
To succeed is nothing -- it's an accident. But to feel no doubts about oneself is something very different: it is character.
Marie Leneru
Underneath this flabby exterior is an enormous lack of character.
Oscar Levant (1906-1972, American pianist, actor)
A person reveals his character by nothing so clearly as the joke he resents.
Georg C. Lichtenberg (1742-1799, German physicist, satirist)
Character matters: leadership descends from character.
Rush Limbaugh (1951-, American TV personality)
Good character is like a rubber ball -- thrown down hard -- it bounces right back. Good reputation is like a crystal ball -- thrown for gain -- shattered and cracked.
A. L. Linall Jr. (1947-, American editor)
Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865, American President (16th))
Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865, American President (16th))
If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how -- the very best I can. And I mean to keep on doing it to the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me will not amount to anything. If the end brings me out all wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865, American President (16th))
Between ourselves and our real natures we interpose that wax figure of idealizations and selections which we call our character.
Walter Lippmann (1889-1974, American journalist)
In this world a man must either be anvil or hammer.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1819-1892, American poet)
Reputation is only a candle, of wavering and uncertain flame, and easily blown out, but it is the light by which the world looks for and finds merit.
James Russell Lowell (1819-1891, American poet, critic, editor)
They are slaves who fear to speak, for the fallen and the weak.
James Russell Lowell (1819-1891, American poet, critic, editor)
Your character will be what you yourself choose to make it.
Sir John Lubbock (1834-1913, British statesman, banker, naturalist)
Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it piece by piece-by thought, choice, courage and determination.
John Luther
The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.
Thomas B. Macaulay (1800-1859, American essayist and historian)
Sound character provides the power with which a person may ride the emergencies of life instead of being overwhelmed by them. Failure is... the highway to success.
Og Mandino (1923-1996, American motivational author, speaker) Author's website: www.ogmandino.com
It is well to think well. It is divine to act well.
Horace Mann (1796-1859, American educator)
Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error.
General Peyton C. March
Character is the indelible mark that determines the only true value of all people and all their work.
Orison Swett Marden (1850-1924, American author, founder of Success Magazine)
We don't love qualities, we love persons; sometimes by reason of their defects as well as of their qualities.
Jacques Maritain (1882-1973, French philosopher)
While an original is always hard to find, he is easy to recognize.
John Mason
If you create an act, you create a habit. If you create a habit, you create a character. If you create a character, you create a destiny.
Andre Maurois (1885-1967, French writer)
Of all the parts of a person's body, there is none more excellent than the pupil of the eye. The pupil cannot hide someone's wickedness. If within the heart everything is proper, the pupil is bright. If within the heart everything is not proper, the pupil is dull. To truly listen to a person, listen to his words and look at the pupil of his eye. How can a person conceal his character?
Mencius (Mengzi Meng-tse) (c.370-300 BC, Chinese philosopher)
Six essential qualities that are the key to success: sincerity, personal integrity, humility, courtesy, wisdom, charity.
William C. Menninger
Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.
James A. Michener (1907-1997, American writer)
Look, we're all the same; a man is a fourteen-room house -- in the bedroom he's asleep with his intelligent wife, in the living-room he's rolling around with some bareass girl, in the library he's paying his taxes, in the yard he's raising tomatoes, and in the cellar he's making a bomb to blow it all up.
Arthur Miller (1915-, American dramatist)
He that has light within his own clear breast may sit in the center, and enjoy bright day: But He that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts benighted walks under the mid-day sun;
John Milton (1608-1674, British poet)
A man's reputation is what other people think of him; his character is what he really is.
Jack Miner
If anyone tells you someone has changed their character; don't believe it.
Mohammed (c.570-c.632, Mecca spiritual leader)
Too many lives are needed to make just one.
Eugenio Montale (1896-1981, Italian poet)
As a rule, I am very careful to be shallow and conventional where depth and originality are wasted.
Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942, Canadian novelist)
Character is what you are in the dark.
Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899, American evangelist)
There are as many characters as there are individuals.
Indian Proverb (Sayings of Indian origin)
Never say no due to pride, or yes due to weakness.
Puerto Rican Proverb
A character is a completely fashioned will.
Novalis (1772-1801, German poet, novelist)
A rich man has no need of character.
Hebrew Proverb (Sayings of Hebrew origin)
I am confident that the character and generosity of our people will never erode.
Ronald Reagan (1911-2004, American President (40th))
Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
Frank Outlaw
Character is much easier kept than recovered.
Thomas Paine (1737-1809, Anglo-American political theorist, writer)
Reputation is what men and women think of us. Character is what God and the angels know of us.
Thomas Paine (1737-1809, Anglo-American political theorist, writer)
An excellent man, like precious metal, is in every way invariable; A villain, like the beams of a balance, is always varying, upwards and downwards, himself his own dungeon.
Saskya Pandita (1182-1251, Tibetan Grand Lama of Saskya)
Not to be cheered by praise, not to be grieved by blame, but to know thoroughly ones own virtues or powers are the characteristics of an excellent man.
Saskya Pandita (1182-1251, Tibetan Grand Lama of Saskya)
Not to be cheered by praise, not to be grieved by blame, but to know thoroughly ones own virtues or powers are the characteristics of an excellent man.
Saskya Pandita (1182-1251, Tibetan Grand Lama of Saskya)
Character is the impulse reined down into steady continuance.
Charles H. Parkhurst (1842-1933, American clergyman, reformer)
It is because they took the easy way out that rivers, and people, go crooked.
Jill Peterson
How difficult it is to save the bark of reputation from the rocks of ignorance.
Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374, Italian poet, humanist)
When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.
Plato (BC 427?-347?, Greek philosopher)
I would rather be adorned by beauty of character than jewels. Jewels are the gift of fortune, while character comes from within.
Titus Maccius Plautus (BC 254-184, Roman comic poet)
Character is long-standing habit.
Plutarch (46-120, Greek essayist, biographer)
Character is simply habit long continued.
Plutarch (46-120, Greek essayist, biographer)
Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll; charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.
Alexander Pope (1688-1744, British poet, critic, translator)
Honor and shame from no condition rise; Act well your part, there all the honor lies.
Alexander Pope (1688-1744, British poet, critic, translator)
Wherever man goes to dwell his character goes with him.
African Proverb (Sayings of African origin)
Clear conscience never fears midnight knocking.
Chinese Proverb (Sayings of Chinese origin)
If you stand straight, do not fear a crooked shadow.
Chinese Proverb (Sayings of Chinese origin)
A person's character reaches town before the person does.
Danish Proverb (Sayings of Danish origin)
Character is always corrupted by prosperity.
Icelandic Proverb (Sayings of Icelandic origin)
Every man forges his own destiny.
Latvian Proverb (Sayings of Latvian origin)
Don't look at the shape -- look at the character.
Turkish Proverb (Sayings of Turkish origin)
Blood is inherited; character is earned.
Venezuelan Proverb
You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jelly beans.
Ronald Reagan (1911-2004, American President (40th))
The real character of a man is found out by his amusements.
Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792, British artist, critic)
To have character is to be big enough to take life on.
Mary Caroline Richards
Calamity is the test of integrity.
Samuel Richardson
A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes another's.
Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825, German novelist)
The four cornerstones of character on which the structure of this nation was built are: initiative, imagination, individuality, and independence.
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker (1890-1973, American aviator, World War I ace)
Surmounting difficulty is the crucible that forms character.
Anthony Robbins (1960-, American author, speaker, peak performance expert, coach) Author's website: www.anthonyrobbins.com
Character isn't something you were born with and can't change, like your fingerprints. It's something you weren't born with and must take responsibility for forming.
Jim Rohn (American businessman, author, speaker, philosopher) Author's website: www.jimrohn.com
It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962, American First Lady, columnist, lecturer, humanitarian)
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