CHARACTER

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~

A man's character is his fate.

~George Santayana~

During my eighty-seven years, I have witnessed a whole succession of technological revolutions. But none of them has done away with the need for character in the individual or the ability to think.

~Bernard M. Baruch~

The farther behind I leave the past, the closer I am to forging my own character.

~Isabelle Eberhardt~

What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.

~Zig Ziglar~

Character is destiny.

~Heraclitus~

Let us not say, every man is the architect of his own fortune; but let us say, every man is the architect of his own character.

~George D. Boardman~

Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.

~James A. Michener~

Character is a victory, not a gift.

~Source Unknown~

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.

~Merikare~

A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.

~English proverb~

An example of building character...

Around 1730, while in his late 20s, Benjamin Franklin listed thirteen virtues that he felt were an important guide for living.  He committed to giving strict attention to one virtue each week so after 13 weeks he moved through all 13. After 13 weeks he would start the process over again so in one year he would complete the course a total of 4 times.

He tracked his progress by using a little book of 13 charts. At the top of each chart was one of the virtues. The charts had a column for each day of the week and thirteen rows marked with the first letter of each of the 13 virtues. Every evening he would review the day and put a mark (dot) next to each virtue for each fault committed with respect to that virtue for that day.

Naturally, his goal was to live his days and weeks without having to put any marks on his chart. Initially he found himself putting more marks on these pages than he ever imagined, but in time he enjoyed seeing them diminish. After awhile he went through the series only once per year and then only once in several years until finally omitting them entirely. But he always carried the little book with him as a reminder.

Benjamin Franklin's 13 virtues are unique and obviously served him well since he is one of the most respected and most accomplished men in the history of the United States.

• Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

• Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself, avoid trifling conversation.

• Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.

• Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.

• Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself, i.e., waste nothing.

• Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

• Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

• Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

• Moderation: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

• Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloths, or habitation.

• Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

• Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.

• Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

What virtues would help you create the destiny you most deeply desire? 

Inspirational Quotes
new quotes
added regularly

Abundance
Act As If
Be A Learner Character
Comfort Zone
Decide & Commit
Develop Knowing
Embrace Problems
Follow Knowing
Give Compliments
Goals
Good Cheer
Let Go of Regret
Like Yourself
Listen
Prayer
Purpose Driven
Outcome Thinking
Rejoicing
Smile
Take Action
Thank People
The Right Thing
Willing to be Wrong