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Character Quotes — 155 Character Quotes, Each Checked to Its Source

Quotes about character, virtue, honesty and kindness, from Heraclitus's "a man's character is his fate" to Kipling and King, each checked to its source.

The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.

The Bible · 1 Peter 3:4

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.

The Bible · Luke 16:10

The tree is known by his fruit.

The Bible · Matthew 12:33

By their fruits ye shall know them.

The Bible · Matthew 7:20

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.

The Bible · Proverbs 22:1

Even a child is known by his doings.

The Bible · Proverbs 20:11

As time requireth, a man of marvellous mirth and pastimes, and sometime of as sad gravity, as who say: a man for all seasons.

Robert Whittington

Labour to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.

George Washington · Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour. Sparks 'Life of Washington' (1839) vol. 2, p. 109.

If men are to respect each other for what they are, they must cease to respect each other for what they own.

A. J. P. Taylor

The only infallible rule we know is, that the man who is always talking about being a gentleman never is one.

R. S. Surtees

Only in our virtues are we original, because virtue is difficult...Vices are general, virtues are particular.

Iris Murdoch

None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but licence.

John Milton

Nobility has its obligations.

Duc de Levis · The source reads: “Noblesse oblige. Nobility has its obligations.”

What is character but the determination of incident? What is incident but the illustration of character?

Henry James

The greatest offence against virtue is to speak ill of it.

William Hazlitt

Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.

Alex Hamilton

The virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarce worth the sentinel.

Oliver Goldsmith

All his faults are such that one loves him still the better for them.

Oliver Goldsmith

The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here lies he who neither feared nor flattered any flesh.

Earl of Morton · Said of John Knox at his burial, 1572.

Once a gentleman, and always a gentleman.

Charles Dickens

Character Quotes

The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.

The tree is known by his fruit.

By their fruits ye shall know them.

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.

Even a child is known by his doings.

As time requireth, a man of marvellous mirth and pastimes, and sometime of as sad gravity, as who say: a man for all seasons.

Labour to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.

If men are to respect each other for what they are, they must cease to respect each other for what they own.

The only infallible rule we know is, that the man who is always talking about being a gentleman never is one.

Education has for its object the formation of character.

He preferred to be rather than to seem good.

It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say that he is one who never inflicts pain.

Only in our virtues are we original, because virtue is difficult...Vices are general, virtues are particular.

None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but licence.

Nobility has its obligations.

What is character but the determination of incident? What is incident but the illustration of character?

The greatest offence against virtue is to speak ill of it.

Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.

The virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarce worth the sentinel.

All his faults are such that one loves him still the better for them.

The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.

Here lies he who neither feared nor flattered any flesh.

Once a gentleman, and always a gentleman.

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Character Quotes

“The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.”

“The tree is known by his fruit.”

“The only infallible rule we know is, that the man who is always talking about being a gentleman never is one.”

“Only in our virtues are we original, because virtue is difficult...Vices are general, virtues are particular.”

“None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but licence.”

“Nobility has its obligations.”

“What is character but the determination of incident? What is incident but the illustration of character?”

“The greatest offence against virtue is to speak ill of it.”

“Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.”

“The virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarce worth the sentinel.”

“The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.”

“Once a gentleman, and always a gentleman.”

Frequently asked questions

We Value Your Opinion Comments

The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.

The tree is known by his fruit.

The only infallible rule we know is, that the man who is always talking about being a gentleman never is one.

Only in our virtues are we original, because virtue is difficult...Vices are general, virtues are particular.

None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but licence.

Nobility has its obligations.

What is character but the determination of incident? What is incident but the illustration of character?

The greatest offence against virtue is to speak ill of it.

Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.

The virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarce worth the sentinel.

The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.

Once a gentleman, and always a gentleman.