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Quotes about character
Samuel Smiles wrote a whole book called Character in 1871, and he believed in it the way other people believe in compound interest. La Rochefoucauld, two centuries earlier, thought most virtue was vanity in a good coat.
Reading them side by side is more useful than either alone, since Smiles supplies the aim and La Rochefoucauld lists the excuses you'll make on the way.
From the books
Checked word for word against public-domain editions.
If a man is mistaken, instruct him kindly and show him his error.
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If a man is mistaken, instruct him kindly and show him his error. But if thou art not able, blame thyself, or blame not even thyself.
Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue.
Our inward thoughts gradually become influenced by our outward demeanour.
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… appearance, it is our master. Let it rather be locked in the innermost recesses of our breast, and be borne by us, not bear us: nay, let us replace all its symptoms by their opposites; let us make our countenance more composed than usual, our voice milder, our step slower. Our inward thoughts gradually become influenced by our outward demeanour. With Socrates it was a sign of anger when he lowered his voice, and became sparing of speech; it was evident at such times that he was exercising restraint over himself. His friends, consequently, used to detect him acting thus, and convict him of being angry; nor was he …
We are ready to see others made perfect, and yet we do not amend our own shortcomings.
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If one who is once or twice admonished refuse to hearken, strive not with him, but commit all to God, that His will may be done and His honour be shown in His servants, for He knoweth well how to convert the evil unto good. Endeavour to be patient in bearing with other men’s faults and infirmities whatsoever they be, for thou thyself also hast many things which have need to be borne with by others. If thou canst not make thine own self what thou desireth, how shalt thou be able to fashion another to thine own liking. We are ready to see others made perfect, and yet we do not amend our own shortcomings.
A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.
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THE aphorism, "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he," not only embraces the whole of a man's being, but is so comprehensive as to reach out to every condition and circumstance of his life. A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.
The conduct of our lives is the true mirror of our doctrine.
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The conduct of our lives is the true mirror of our doctrine. Zeuxidamus, to one who asked him, why the Lacedaemonians did not commit their constitutions of chivalry to writing, and deliver them to their young men to read, made answer, that it was because they would inure them to action, and not amuse them with words. With such a one, …
We wish to live for what is great, not for what is mean.
The roots below the earth claim no rewards for making the branches fruitful.
Men do not fail commonly for want of knowledge, but for want of prudence to give wisdom the preference.
A household cannot be governed by lying; nor can a nation.
Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.
First study; then approve; then love.
Forbearance and self-control smooth the road of life, and open many ways which would otherwise remain closed.
All that seems strange to us, and that we do not understand, we condemn.
If you are sincere, people will repose trust in you.
A great man is always willing to be little.
Clean thoughts make clean habits.
Perfect valour is to do without witnesses what one would do before all the world.
Character calls forth character.
Character is greater than any career.
Good-will makes insight, as one finds his way to the sea by embarking on a river.
Every opinion reacts on him who utters it.
Character is human nature in its best form.
Personal beauty soon passes; but beauty of mind and character increases in attractiveness the older it grows.
Reason deliberates before it judges; but anger passes sentence without deliberation.
The great thing is the education of character.
Be not virtuous beyond your powers!
Every man, however wise, who begins by worshipping success, must end in mere mediocrity.
Say what you have to say, not what you ought.
We must not consider how great presents are, but in what spirit they are given.
To be outspoken is easy when you do not wait to speak the complete truth.
Virtue is a pleasant and gay quality.
Good sense, disciplined by experience and inspired by goodness, issues in practical wisdom.
Would not every man wish to lay aside anger when he sees that it begins by injuring himself?
The really great man is a plain, straightforward, every-day, common-sense man.
Opportunity makes us known to others, but more to ourselves.
Popular sayings
Widely repeated lines with no name attached, because nobody can honestly put one on them.
Go the extra mile.
Respect is earned, not given.
Start with the change you can make yourself.
A leopard can't change its spots.
It's never too late to say sorry.
One good turn deserves another.
Let your work speak for itself.
Empty vessels make the most noise.
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