125 Quotes about Character in 12 Categories

Jacqueline Eisenbraun (Senior Editor)

Are you looking for quotes about people’s character or personality? In this article you will find 125 quotes in 12 different categories. Whether you’re looking for short quotes, words of wisdom, or quotes about deceptive characters, you will find the best selection of quotes here.

Every person has their own character, habits and quirks. Some of these you might share with your friends and family, while others are very much your own.

Some kinds of personality tend to be better received than others. This is because how we think about people’s personalities is closely tied to our value systems.

Meaningful Quotes about Character

Meaningful Quotes about Character

We have collected various quotes about character and personality for you, so that you can choose a quote for almost any occasion.

If a quote makes you think of a friend, you could send it to them; you could also choose a quote that you identify with personally.

Here you will find inspirational quotes about change.

Short Quotes for Characters

Short Quotes for Characters

Here you will find especially short quotes that talk about people’s characters. These quotes are great if you want to leave a little message to someone or for sending on WhatsApp.

1. If you want to be happy, be.
   (Leo Tolstoy, Russian novelist, 1828-1910)
2. The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
   (Socrates, Greek philosopher, 469-399 B.C.)
3. All that we are is the result of what we have thought.
   (Buddha, founder of Buddhism, 560 B.C.-483 B.C.)
4. Be the change you wish to see in the world.
   (Mahatma Gandhi, Indian revolutionary, 1869-1948)
5. In the darkest moments, our true character shines brightest.
   (Unknown)
6. Character comes not from the mind, but from the heart.
   (Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi, German philosopher, 1743-1819)
7. If you have character, you don’t need principles.
   (Julius Wagner-Jauregg, Austrian psychiatrist, 1857-1940)
8. We judge a person by his deeds, and we judge his personality by his motives.
   (Unknown)
9. To be truly brave, one must first be willing to be vulnerable.
   (Unknown)
10. Character, not circumstances, makes the man.
    (Booker T. Washington, American educator, 1856-1915)

Beautiful Sayings about Personality

Beautiful Sayings about Personality

These quotes about character are like a salve for the soul. They are particularly beautiful quotes about people with strong characters, and can help you to strengthen your own personality traits.

1. Similarity of character is the strongest tie in friendship.
   (Pliny the Younger, Roman lawyer, 62-113)
2. No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main
   (John Donne, English writer and poet, 1572-1631)
3. A man’s true wealth is the good he does in the world.
   (Khalil Gibran, Lebanese-American poet, philosopher and painter, 1883-1931)
4. To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life.
   (Samuel Johnson, English poet, 1709-1784)
5. It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.
   (William Shakespeare, English playwright, 1564-1616)
6. The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.
   (Ralph Waldo Emerson, American philosopher, 1803-1882)
7. A person’s character is like a work of art – unique, complex, and full of beauty.
   (Unknown)
8. The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.
   (William James, American philosopher, 1842-1910)
9. The most beautiful things a person can wear are a kind heart and a compassionate soul.
   (Unknown)
10. A person’s true beauty lies not in their physical appearance, but in the depth of their character.
    (Unknown)

Here you will find quotes about confidence.

Quotes for a Good Character

Quotes for a Good Character

There are many personality traits and moral values that contribute to whether a person has good character. Some of these we are born with, but others, like kindness and perseverance, are things we can work on and get better at.

The following quotes will make you think about what defines a good character. They talk about different things that make a person good, and how we can all work towards building a good character.

1. The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.
   (Socrates, Greek philosopher, 469-399 B.C.)
2. What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
   (Ralph Waldo Emerson, American philosopher, 1803-1882)
3. A person’s true beauty is revealed in their ability to love and show kindness to others.
   (Unknown)
4. Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. People are just people, and all people have faults and shortcomings, but all of us are born with a basic goodness.
   (Anne Frank, German-jewish writer, 1929-1945)
5. In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.
   (Thomas Jefferson, Founding Father of the United States, 1743-1826)
6. Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think.
   (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
7. If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.
   (Booker T. Washington, American educator, 1856-1915)
8. Good character is not something that can be inherited, but it is something that can be cultivated.
   (Unknown)
9. When you’re good to others, you’re best to yourself.
   (Benjamin Franklin, American politician, 1706-1790)
10. Good character is not a destination, but a journey of self-improvement.
    (Unknown)
11. Our virtues and our failings are inseparable, like force and matter.
    (Nikola Tesla, Serbian-American inventor, 1856-1943)

Quotes about the Character of a Man

Quotes about the Character of a Man

In the following section you will find sayings about character traits that are stereotypically associated with men. There are also quotes about how to see the true character of a man.

1. The character of a man is like a tree – it takes time to grow and develop, but the result is strong and enduring.
   (Abraham Lincoln, American president, 1809-1865)
2. Man is never so manly as when he feels deeply, acts boldly, and expresses himself with frankness and with fervor.
   (Benjamin Disraeli, British statesman, 1804-1881)
3. The mark of a truly great man is his humility and his willingness to learn from others.
   (Unknown)
4. A man is one whose body has been trained to be the ready servant of his mind; whose passions are trained to be the servants of his will; who enjoys the beautiful, loves truth, hates wrong, loves to do good, and respects others as himself.
   (John Ruskin, English writer, 1819-1900)
5. Duty is the essence of manhood.
   (George S. Patton, American officer, 1885-1945)
6. Nothing shows the character of a man better than how he behaves towards women.
   (Voltaire, French writer, 1694-1778)
7. A man of character always stands up for what is right, even when it’s not popular.
   (Unknown)
8. A man’s character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation.
   (Mark Twain, American writer, 1835-1910)
9. A man’s integrity is the cornerstone of his character.
   (Unknown)

Ambiguous Character Quotes

Ambiguous Character Quotes

In the following section you will find ambiguous character quotes. Some of these quotes have more than one meaning, depending on how you interpret them. Use one of these quotes if you want to play on the multifaceted and changeable aspects of the human character.

1. A person’s character is like a blank canvas – it is up to them to fill it with colors of their choosing.
   (Proverb)
2. There are two kinds of people: some think, while others amuse themselves.
   (Charles de Secondat, French writer, 1689-1755)
3. What we consider to be a character flaw may actually be a strength in disguise.
   (Unknown)
4. Men of character are the conscience of the society to which they belong.
   (Ralph Waldo Emerson, American philosopher, 1803-1882)
5. A person’s intentions may be pure, but their methods may be questionable.
   (Unknown)
6. Satan has character, but no soul.
   (Julius Langbehn, German writer and philosopher, 1851-1907)
7. What we believe to be true about someone may only be a projection of our own insecurities.
   (Unknown)
8. Being loyal is a blessing and a curse.
   (Unknown)
9. A person’s character is like a garden – it requires constant attention and care to flourish.
   (Proverb)
10. Sometimes the hardest battles we face are the ones within our own minds.
    (Unknown)

Wisdom about the Human Character

Wisdom about the Human Character

Here you will find words of wisdom about the human character. These quotes give insight into and highlight truths about the human character and its many facets.

1. Strong characters are brought out by change of situation, and gentle ones by permanence.
   (Jean Paul, German writer, 1763-1825)
2. Character is simply habit long continued.
   (Plutarch, Greek philosopher, unknown -c. 119)
3. The human character is like a tree, rooted in its beliefs and values, and constantly growing and evolving with time.
   (Unknown)
4. A person’s character is not defined by their achievements, but by how they treat others along the way.
   (Unknown)
5. Very often, say what you will, a knave is only a fool.
   (Voltaire, French writer, 1694-1778)
6. Our character is not just who we are, but who we strive to be.
   (Unknown)
7. Character is this moral order seen through the medium of an individual nature.
   (Ralph Waldo Emerson, American philosopher, 1803-1882)
8. The human character is both fragile and resilient, capable of withstanding great adversity and emerging stronger on the other side.
   (Unknown)
9. Our character is not something that is fixed, but something that can be developed and improved through conscious effort.
   (Unknown)
10. If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.
    (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, French writer and pilot, 1900-1944)

Quotes about the True Character of a Person

Quotes about the True Character of a Person

The quotes we have gathered here are about the true character of a person, and about how you can recognize it or when it might become visible. You can use them when you are convinced that someone is deceiving you and you want to provoke some honesty.

1. The measure of a man’s real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.
   (Thomas Macaulay, British historian, 1800-1859)
2. You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.
   (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet, 1749-1832)
3. The measure of a man is what he does with power.
   (Plato, Greek philosopher, 427-347 B.C.)
4. A man is what he makes of himself.
   (Adolph Kolping, German priest, 1813-1865)
5. In the face of adversity, we discover our true potential.
   (Unknown)
6. The mind is everything. What you think you become.
   (Buddha, founder of Buddhism, 560 B.C.-483 B.C.)
7. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
   (Aristotle, Greek philosopher, 384-322 B.C.)
8. To truly know someone, look to their actions, not their words.
   (Unknown)
9. The greatest challenge in life is learning to accept ourselves for who we are.
   (Unknown)
10. Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
    (Oscar Wilde, Irish poet, 1854-1900)

Here you’ll find quotes about true friendship.

Quotes for Character and Money

Quotes for Character and Money

These quotes are about how money or wealth can change a person’s character. They ask whether this happens, how it happens, and whether money really can buy happiness.

1. A writer’s reputation is his life. He can afford to have no money, but not to have no character.
   (Mark Twain, American writer, 1835-1910)
2. Character is money; and according as the man earns and spends the money, money in turn becomes character.
   (Edward Bulwer-Lytton, English author, 1803-1873)
3. The true worth of a person is not measured in dollars, but in their values and beliefs.
   (Unknown)
4. The character of rich people can be judged by what they have money for.
   (Lü Buwei, Chinese philosopher, 291-235 B.C.)
5. Money can corrupt even the strongest of characters.
   (Unknown)
6. Industry, thrift and self-control are not sought because they create wealth, but because they create character.
   (Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States, 1872-1933)
7. The character which results from wealth is that of a prosperous fool.
   (Aristotle, Greek philosopher, 384-322 B.C.)
8. Money cannot buy integrity, honesty, or loyalty – the building blocks of true character.
   (Unknown)
9. The way a person handles their money shows whether they are ruled by greed or guided by values.
   (Unknown)
10. Money may buy temporary happiness, but it cannot buy true character.
    (Unknown)

Sayings about Disappointing Characters

Sayings about Disappointing Characters

The quotes in this section are about egoists and about the bad sides of the human character. Use one of these quotes when someone’s character has disappointed you.

1. No man is more cheated than the selfish man.
   (Henry Ward Beecher, American clergyman, 1813-1887)
2. If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man but deteriorate the cat.
3. (Mark Twain, American writer, 1835-1910)
4. A disappointing character is one who lacks integrity and honesty.
   (Unknown)
5. The most disappointing characters are often those who are not true to themselves.
   (Unknown)
6. Selfishness is the greatest curse of the human race.
   (William E. Gladstone, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1809-1898)
7. If there were no bad people, there would be no good lawyers.
   (Charles Dickens, English writer, 1812-1870)
8. A disappointing character is like a broken promise, leaving behind shattered hopes and dreams.
   (Unknown)
9. The most disappointing characters are those who lack empathy and compassion for others.
   (Unknown)
10. Just when you think you know people, they disappoint you in ways you never thought they could.
    (Unknown)
11. Disappointing characters are like empty shells – they have no substance or depth.
    (Unknown)

Quotes about Deceptive and False Characters

Quotes about Deceptive and False Characters

These quotes talk about deceptive and false people with bad personalities, or about people with no character. They are about hypocrisy, deception and lies. If these are the themes you want to address, choose one of these quotes.

1. The liar’s punishment is not in the least that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe anyone else."
   (George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright, 1856-1950)
2. A deceptive person is like a mirage in the desert – tempting, but ultimately leading to disappointment.
   (Unknown)
3. Falsehood is easy, truth so difficult.
   (George Eliot, English writer, 1819-1880)
4. Beware the wolf in sheep’s clothing.
   (Aesop, Greek author, 620-564 B.C.)
5. Falsehood has an infinity of combinations, but truth has only one mode of being.
   (Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Swiss writer, 1712-1778)
6. Fake people are like toxic plants, beautiful on the outside but poisonous within.
   (Unknown)
7. Falsehood is cowardice, the truth courage.
   (Hosea Ballou, American author, 1771-1852)
8. One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.
   (Niccolò Machiavelli, Italian author and philosopher, 1469-1527)
9. A liar will not be believed, even when he speaks the truth.
   (Aesop, Greek author, 620-564 B.C.)
10. False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil.
    (Socrates, Greek philosopher, 469-399 B.C.)
11. Better a thousand enemies outside the tent than one inside.
    (Arabic proverb)
12. Falsehood is never so successful as when she baits her hook with truth.
    (Charles Caleb Coulton, English writer, 1780-1832)

Character Quotes to Think About

Character Quotes to Think About

The following quotes about character are designed to make you think. Similarly to the ambiguous quotes, there are different levels to their meaning. Use these quotes to improve your awareness of the idiosyncrasies of the human character.

1. Character is not what you have, but who you are when no one is watching.
   (Unknown)
2. Nature is often hidden; sometimes overcome; seldom extinguished.
   (Sir Francis Bacon, English philosopher, 1561-1626)
3. 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, American president, 1809-1865)
4. A man’s character is his fate.
   (Heraclitus, Greek philosopher, 544-483 B.C.)
5. Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
   (Lao-tzu, Chinese philosopher, 365 B.C.-290 B.C.)
6. The final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.
   (Anne Frank, German-jewish writer, 1929-1945)
7. A person’s character is not determined by their circumstances, but by their choices.
   (Unknown)
8. What you are will show in what you do.
   (Thomas A. Edison, American inventor and businessman, 1847-1931)
9. Character is the foundation of all success.
   (Unknown)
10. The greatest wealth a person can possess is a strong character.
    (Unknown)
11. There are two kinds of people: the ones who throw banana skins on the floor, and the ones who pick them up.
    (Unknown)

Here you’ll find more smart quotes to think about.

Quotes about Characters of Women

Quotes about Characters of Women

In this section you will find character quotes about women. It should be noted that these quotes have their roots in stereotypes. Although gender has nothing to do with specific character traits, many people like to draw connections between the two.

1. A woman’s mind is cleaner than a man’s: She changes it more often."
   (Oliver Herford, Anglo-American writer, 1860-1935)
2. A woman can say more in a sigh than a man can say in a sermon.
   (Arnold Haultain, British writer, 1857-1941)
3. A woman’s strength is not measured by the muscles in her body, but by the resilience in her heart.
   (Unknown)
4. A woman’s grace is not a weakness, but a mark of her inner beauty.
   (Unknown)
5. The strength of women comes from the fact that psychology cannot explain us. Men can be analyzed, women merely adored.
   (Oscar Wilde, Irish poet, 1854-1900)
6. A woman’s intuition is not a myth, it’s a superpower.
   (Unknown)
7. Women are the real architects of society.
   (Harriet Beecher Stowe, American writer, 1811-1896)
8. The heart of a woman is a fountain of endless love and compassion."
   (Unknown)
9. A woman’s character is not defined by the mistakes she makes, but by the lessons she learns.
   (Unknown)
10. It is in the nature of women to submit to unavoidable circumstances more easily than one would think possible, given the uneasiness that torments them before making a decision.
    (Fanny Lewald, German writer, 1811-1889)
11. The history of all times, and of today especially, teaches that… women will be forgotten if they forget to think about themselves.
    (Luise Otto-Peters, German writer, 1819-1895)

Interesting Facts about the Character

Interesting Facts about the Character

Here you will learn all about the meaning of the term “character” and about its origins and history. Besides that, you will also learn about gender personality stereotypes and why these are so problematic.

First, you will learn interesting facts about the definition and history. After that we will explain why there are different personality stereotypes and why this could be problematic.

Definition and History

The word “character” has several meanings in English. Collins English Dictionary defines character as “your personality, especially how reliable and honest you are. If someone is of good character, they are reliable and honest.”

The term has a long history. It comes from ancient Greek, when it originally meant something like an imprint or stamp. This then developed to mean a unique feature.

The Greeks believed in four personality types or temperaments, each of which corresponded to a bodily fluid:

• Melancholy – black bile
• Choleric – yellow bile
• Sanguine – blood
• Phlegmatic – phlegm

These categories correspond to personality types as described by Hippocrates.
In the 4th century B.C., Aristotle developed a further concept of character based on virtues. A person could cultivate his character through tedious practice and habits.

In psychology, the meaning of the term “character” includes a person’s moral and social attitudes. The term “personality” is often used as a synonym and describes an individual’s traits and qualities. A person’s character is defined by these qualities and by their emotional intelligence.

In 1993 the social theorist Amitai Etzioni defined the meaning of character as follows: “By ‘character’ we understand the psychological muscles that allow a person to control their impulses and delay gratification, which is the basis of success, attainment and moral behavior.”

Gendered Personality Stereotypes & Criticism

Gendered Personality Stereotypes & Criticism

In the 19th century, many people believed that a person’s character was directly linked to their physical sex characteristics. They believed that men and women’s roles in society should be determined by the supposed nature and character of their gender.

Instead of making use of the diversity of the human character, the conclusions drawn from this supposed combination of biology, destiny and nature led to the demarcation of the world into male and female spheres.

Women were confined to the private and domestic spheres, while men were supposedly more suited by nature to public life.

Naturally, this led to demarcation and comparison of the sexes. Men were considered to be active and rational, while women were considered to be passive and emotional.

The male character was defined by energy, willpower and courage, while the feminine nature was thought to be weak, submissive and fickle. Men were considered to have the right nature for thinking and knowledge, while women were not considered to be capable of this.

Instead, they were defined by their sensitivity and receptivity, and their supposed virtues were decorum, modesty and chastity.

One of the problems with these ideas of sex-based personality traits is that many people still believe in these stereotypes today.

Attributing personality traits to one’s sex is meaningless, because our sex says nothing about our abilities or personalities, and linking sex and personality often leads to hurt and discrimination.

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