On Building Character - RBC

[Pages:4]VOL.40.No.3.

I IxAIO).t,it,c-'lgMO:NTREAL,APRI1L959

On BuildinCgharacter

C HARACTERis of vital importanceto young

workmena,mongneighboursf,riendsandfamily.They

peoplleeavinsgchooalnduniversittoyenterupon giveanimpressioofncompletenepsosi,seandsincerity.

theirlifework.It isbycharactetrhattheywillbe Theyare,orwillbecomet,hemotivepowerofsociety.

judgedby theirfriendst,heiremployerasndsociety. Ourtruearistocraciys notof bloodor fashionor

Theterm"charactera"ppliesin commonusageto talentb,utofcharacter.

thedistinctiavrerayofqualitiessettinogffoneindi- Real,notassumed

vidualfromall others.The wordcomesfromthe Greek,meaning"a distinguishimnagrk,impression, engravingI.t"signifiewshatnatureandourtraining and our habitsand ourthoughtshavemadeus.When we say thata personhas "characterw"e pay him a compliment.

Somepeoplesay thatknowledgeis power.It is morecorrectin thisvigorousandcomplexageto saythatcharacteris power.Mindwithoutheart, intelligenwciethouctonductc,levernewsisthougtoodness:allthesehavedangeroufslaws.

The personof characterendeavourtso be really what he wishesto appear.Characterdealswith substancen,otshow.It iscomplexion,otcosmetic: theoutwaredxpressionf an innerrealityn,otsomethingstuckon fromoutside.

Thepersonof weakcharacteirslikea chameleon; he takesonthecolorofhissurroundingHse.maynot offenpdrofoundalgyainsstocialaws,butdriftserenely becausehe is makingfornowhere.He may,indeed, havemanyof theattributesof the manof strong characterb,uthisaverageis draggedownby oneor

Thisisa sideof lifetowhichyoungandoldneed twoweaknesses.

topayattentioinf theyaretoachievheappinesasnd

A commontypeoffeeblecharacteirs shownby the

peaceof mind.Thedevelopmenotf charactehrasnot persownhocredithsimselfforhissuccessebsu,tblames

keptpace with the advancementof scienceand hisenvironmenftorhisfailuresh;e is an optimist

technologyH.umanimpulseshaveremainedbecalmed abouthimselfa,nda pessimisatboutallotherpeople;

andalmostchangeleswshilethephysicaslurroundings he admiresthesuperman,andbelievesthathe too

of humanbeingshavebeentransformed.

couldbea greatleaderifpeoplewouldonlyrecognize

Moralstrengthandbackboneneedto be brought hismerits.

uptothelevelofourincreasiinngtellecteunalighten- By contrastt,hepersonof sturdycharactehrasa

mentandourever-widenincgontroloverphysical goodsenseofproportionH.eis notblownhitherand

things.

yonby whims,desiresandfads.He willnotknuckle

Somepeoplehavea falseideaof characterT.hey thinkofitas beingliketheangelsandcherubosfa

downunderanysituatiotnhataffronthsim untilhe hasdoneallinhispowerto changiet.

greatpainterlikeFraAngelicop,ortrayinggoodness Sucha charactecrannotbe manufacturoevdernight.

withouptersonalitByu.tthepersonofnoblecharacter Itisbuiltovera periodoutofmateriaolftwosorts:

hasvaliditayndactualithye;knowsthatheisfilling thesolidkind,suppliebdyobservatiorne,asoninagnd

a vitalneedandmeetinghisobligationtso himself study;andthelivelyandliveningkindbroughtby

andtosociety.

theimagination.

Thereisnoneedtoseekexamplei'nsremotheistory. Charactears,GoetheputitonceforaI1,growsonly Wemayseepeopleofcharacteirnoureverydalyives, inthestreamof theworld.Everyonheasa basicand amongteachersand students,amongforemenand urgentneedforself-realizatainodnsatisfactiobnu,~

he cannotattainthesein a vacuum.We arenotonly

As to tolerancea,writertellsaboutattendinag

individuablust,unitsinsociety.

dancein a countrywheretherehadbeena revolution.

A personof goodcharactedroesnottryto evade hisdutiestosocietyn,ordoeshe allowhimselfto becomenegligenotf them.Hewillnotdropa lighted matchandstarta forestfire;he doesnotleavean

Thelightswereturnedoutduringtheplayingof the

newrepublicaannthem,because,as one leadersaid,

"thisisa socialaffairandwedon'twanttoseewho

won'tstandup."

~,

obstacloena highwatyomenacethelivesofmotorists; A goodprinciplef,oundin peopleof characteri,s

hedoesnotdisplatyhatabominablfeormofarrogance towaituntiltheevidenciesinbeforpeassinjgudgment.

of thinkinhgimselfabovethelawswhichapplyto aU We cannotmakeup our mindsintelligentliyf we

otherpeople.

judgeby singlefactswrenchefdromtheircontextin

a man'sor a nation'slife.Whencecamethefacts? The man of characterknowsthat his greatest

HavetheyundoubtevdalidityH?aveyou testedthem significamnucsetconsisitnhiscontributtiootnhelives againstthe commonsenseof yourown experience ofothersT.hemorecomplext,hemorehighly-organizedandyourknowledgeof thingsin general?Haveyou oursocietybecomest,hemoreitrequirecsompetent, considerienda kindlyway,asAlansaidinRoberLtouis self-respectiwnegl,l-roundienddividualtsomakeit Stevenson'Ksidnapped:"Themthathavenaedipped

work.

theirhandsin anylittledifficultsyhouldbe very

Principlaensdstandards

mindfuolf thecaseof themthathave."

Whataresomeofthefeaturesthatmarka person

If weanalysewhatwe knowof thepersonwhohas

offirst-racthearactePro?ssiblmyostimportainstthat an admirablecharacterw,e shallfindoneof the

hehaslearnetdheidealasndfactsoflifephilosophi- ingredienttosbeself-forgetfulHneeissst.houghtfoufl

callyt:hatis,soastodiscoveprincipleTsh.ehabitof others.HerespectostherpeopleaspersonsH.econ-

hismindis to referto standardsH.e discriminates sidersnotonlywhereina friendor anemployeehas

betweenthegoodandthe shoddy.

fallenshort,butalsowhatthatpersonhaspositively

achieveodr endeavoured.

Principlaecstasa sortofpsychologicgaylroscope,

keepinugsinbalanceE.veryonweillnothavethesame Gentleness

setof principlesb,uteveryoneneedssomethintgo

Sometimewse hearpeoplelamentintghechivalry

whichhe setshisbackanddeclares"HerestandI; I candonoother."

thatis gone.Theyfindamongthetumbledcastles andburiedswordsof theMiddleAgesa codecalled

Partof characteirs to recognizteheimperative knightlhyonourf,orwhichtheypine.

natureof pletefreedomto followevery

Thegentlepersontodayis onewhosenaturehas

impulsweoulddissolvceharactebru,tinnerdiscipline beenfashioneadfterthehighesmtodelsH.efindsthat

buildist.

gentleneisnssocietiysfarmorepowerfutlhanloudness

NicholasMonsarratsumsup duty,obligatioannd responsibiliinthyisbookThreeCorvettetse,llinagbout wartimeon theAtlantic":You'rewokenup at ten to fourby thebosun'smate,andyoustareat the deck-heaadndthink:'I can'tgoup thereagainin

orforce,andfarmorefruitfulI.t pushesitsway quietlayndresolutelyi,kethetiniesctrocuisn spring whichraisetsheclodandthrustistasideby thesimple persistenocfegrowing.

Gentlenesis combinewdithstrengtahndauthority

thedarkandfilthyrain,andstandanothefrourhours of it.'Butyoucan,of coursei:t becomeasutomaticn theend.Andbesidest,herearepeoplewatchinygou."

Broadmindedness

in thepersonof excellenctharacterG.reat-minded menarenothighandmightytowardpeopleof humble stationsT.herearemanytestsby whicha gentleman maybe known,butthereis onethatneverfails:how doeshe exercispeoweroverthosewhoaresubordinate

Thepersonof goodcharacteirs broadmindeadnd tohim?

tolerantG.reat-mindedniesstsheornamenotf allthe

Thisgentleneisssin thevastfieldofconducqtuite

othervirtuesT.hrougihta manreflecttshesensitive outsidelegalcommandmenatnsdregulationIst.isan spirithatisdeathtotheimmaturiotfyprejudice. areawellknownto thepersonof goodcharactebrut

WhatisbroadmindedneIstsi?slookinagtideasand largeluynexplodrebyothers.

factsfromallsides,comparinsgtatementsr,eports, andbeliefhsonestlayndeagerlyW.henCharleDsarwin cameupon dataunfavourableto a theoryhe was considerinhge,hastilymadea noteofthem,because he knewtheyhada wayof slippingoutof memorya littlmeorereadiltyhanwelcomfeacts.

Dependability

Thepersonof soundcharactehrasnotonlytalent butthepowerto makehistalentrusted.

Trustworthiniesssa vitalfactorin characterT.he manof characteirs notconstantlryeflectinwghether

he shallbehonestornot;he ishonestbyhabitand

Harmonyshouldnot be mistakenfora soothing,

as a matterof course.He doesnotgivepromises placidconditionQ.uitethecontraryI.tisthesource

lightlyb,utlivesuptothosehedoesgive.

of greatenergyo,f activeandmeaningfpualrticipation

intheworldof realityI.t isan attribuotfematurity.

Anintegraplartof dependabiliitsymodestyT.he

,,,manofgoodcharactedroesnotallowhisheadto be

A maturepersonbehavesin a reasonableway,

turnebdytheflourisohftrumpetssoundinhgispraise. observinsgelf-restrasionthatrestraindtosnothave

Hedoesnottrytogivealltheanswerosrtospeakas tobe imposedH.e seesthroughnonsensienpolities,

an authoritoyneverytopic.Heknowsthatthereis economicss,cience,andtheotherpreoccupatioonfs

truthin Solomon'wsords:thereismorehopefora life,andfeelsittobehisdutytoresisitt.Hecanfind

foolthanfora manwiseinhisownconceitH.emeasures newoutletfsorhisenergiewshentheyareblockeidn

hisachievemenbtysthoseofhisequalsandsuperiors: anyparticuldairrectioint:isonlytheneurotipcerson

itisnotonlyfalsereasoninbgutstupitdomeasurbey whofeels"Imusthavethisornothing."

comparisownithlesserpeople.

Canwe improvceharacter?

Therewas oncea Romangeneralwho lost per-

Somepeoplaerefatalistasn,dwillseriouslqyuestion

spectiveW.henhe captureda smallcityhe allowed theabilitoyfa persontochangehischaracteirnany

hisarmytosalutehimas emperorH.iscontemporaries wayasa resultofconsciouesffortT.hatisa doctrine

laughedb,ecausteheysaidhemustdespaiorfa nobler of pessimismT.raitsofcharactearrenotinherited

achievemenstincehe madeso muchof thislittle solelyb,utarebuiltwithinourenvironment.

SUCCesS.

Butthemanofcharacteirsnotsohumbleas tobe afraidtoshowhisabilitiesT.hereisno worsecrime againsoturhumanheritagtehanto wasteourtalents.

Theopportunityoblamehereditiys congeniatlo personswhodo notwishto change.Theyseemperfect tothemselveasn,dtheirfaultasreso lovablteo them, thattheyresenthenotionof makinga fewrepairs.

Allthevirtueasndprinciplseosfarmentioneadn,d

Somepeoplefearto ventureoutintothebroadlife

othersuitedtotheindividunaaltureandcircumstance of maturitybecausetheycannottell,neverhaving

ofeverypersonc,ontributeotheself-relianwcheich tried,whethertheyaresure-footedO.r theymaybe

is so evidentin peopleofstrongcharacterW.hena weaklingwshothinkof themselveas refraininfgrom

manofcharactfearcesa stiffenceheeithesrailsover contactwiththe worldfor someexaltedreason,

itorwallophsimselofverit.

whereatshetruthis thattheystayinthebackground

Motiveandharmony

Howaretheprincipleasndvirtuesco-ordinatseod as to formcharacterI?t ismotivethatgivesformand intensityo oureffortsa,ndmotiveis thethoughotf a desirablend.It runsthroughourmixingwith peopleand our solitarymeditationo,ur dominance andourshyness,ourconformittyo conventionasnd ouridiosyncrasioeusr,affectiofnorthingsthatare goodandourruthlessneasgsainsthingsthatarebad.

becausetheyhavelamepaws.

Intelligenpteopledo notfancythemselvetso be perfectb,uttheyarenotundulytroublebdy thefact thattheyarenot.Perfectioinsa completiowni,thout growthor expansionw,hereasexcellenctharacteirs theresultof manyrecommencements.

To knowwhereto startis an importantpartof learnings,o it is worthwhilteo takean inventory showinwgherewe standtoday.It is refreshitnogstep a littleaside,outofthecrowd,andcalmlytakea

Thehabithatresultfsromfollowinogurmotiveiss prospecotfthingst:ogive,asEdgarGuestsaid,"the

notmerecustom,buta wayof willingo,fdeliberate manyou'dliketobea lookatthemanyouare."

choiceS.erf-respecatp,plicatioin,tegrittyh-eseare notbeliefsb,uthabits".Couldtheyoung,a"s William Jameswrote,"butrealizehow soontheywillbecome merewalkingbundleosf habitst,heywouldgivemore heedtotheirconductwhilein theplastisctate.We arespinninogurownfates,goodor evil,andnever

Whatisa manofsuperiocrharacterI?sitnottrue tosaythatheisonewhopursuetshetrue,thebeautiful andthegood?Forwhatelseistherethatis really worthpursuinign educationi,n vocationi,nfamily lifei,nsociety?

to be undone."

Lifeismovement

Characteirncludesa kindof harmony,a sortof GoldenMeanby practisinwghichwe keepourbalance. Themostprofoundneedof personalitiys thatthe individuaslhouldrealizehimselfas a harmonious whole,balancinhgisqualitieasndabilitiessoas to constitutien,thecommonphrase",anall-rounmdan."

Thewayto buildcharacteirsnotto loiterabout old thingsbut to seekand do new things.Good characteirsnota dwellinugponpastexcellencineosr a yearningafterthingsas we wishthemto be,but anacceptanocfethingsastheyreallyarewitha view to influencitnhgem.Whenthesungoesdown,thatis

theendof a day,andthemanof boldcharacteirs

Therearevarioustypesof courage,andallare

alreadymarchinigntothenew daydawning.

partandparcelof characterT.hewrestlewrhowipes

thedustfromhisshoulderasnd grappleasgainwith Progresisntimeandknowledgweillrequirperogress hisadversaryt;hemanwhohasthecouragetolive in thinkingT.hepersonof admirablceharactehras hisbeliefst;hemanwhoholdsinfaceofeverydange7I learnetdorevisheisconceptosfgoodandbad,beautiful theposthehastakenupbecausheeisconvincetdha~-.~' andugly,whatto desireandwhatto avoid.He is

it isrighto doso,orbecausheischiefputhimthere: noteasilyswayedby wishfutlhinkingb,utappliehsis

thesetypiftyhecouragoef themanofnoblecharacter. constructidvreeaminign action.

Whatis it thatpreventsa personof undoubted A philosoopfhlyife

constructiavnedintellectuaablilitfyromattaininag

We do notbuildcharacterby layinga layerof

lifeofcharactearndaccomplishmeOnnte?ofthemost transcendenttahloughtuponanotherlayer,cemented

commoncausesof failuriesthis:hecontenthsimself by a sortofphilosophicaadlhesiveC.haracteirsa

withbeinga Don Quixotein imaginations,eeing codeof values.A man canbe judgedonlyby what

visionasndgreatcauses,butheremainsa Hamletin heseesvaluein.

achievemenbty debatingandpostponing.

Byphilosophoyf lifewe meanwhateveirt is that Excellencoefanysortis beyondthereachofin- givesmeaninganddirectiotno oureverydaayffai~. dolenceA. manmusthavethespunkandspineto put Ifwehavenoguidancoefthissort,wearestillimacrosshisideas.He needs,asGeneralDe Gaulleput mature.We findourselvesunableto measureour it:"thatsenseofrealitwyhichguidesaudacityT.h"e attainmenatgsainstthepossibilitoifeosurenvironment; consciousneosfspowerdeveloposutofeffortandthe we haveno innercourtto whichwe canappealfor encounterionfgdifficultNyo.timidaspiratiownisll judgmenotn ouractions. sufficeA.sMiltonsaidin hisimmortaAleropagitica:

"I cannotpraisea fugitivaendcloisterevdirtue, Thephilosophoyf lifeof thepersonof superior

unexerciseadndunbreathedt,hatneversalliesout charactewrillbesomethinlgikethis:afterexamining

andseesheradversary."

a problem,situatioonr proposalin a broadminded,

Themanof charactehrastheenergyto do things, evidence-seekiwnagy,he willdecidewhathe ought

:toscorea knockouotverinertiaH.eisgladtowrite to likeandwhathe shoulddislikeH.e weighsgains inhisdiarydayafterday,as Columbuwsroteinthe againsltossesk,nowintghathecan'thaveonewithout

logofhisfirstvoyageacrosstheuncharteAdtlantic, theother.He knowsthatitis notconcretweordslikef

"Thisdaywe sailedon."

moneyandpowerthatgivedignityto charactearnd

happinestso individualbsu,tmistywordslikehonour,

Characteirsnotbuiltbystorinugp abilitieasnd lovel,oyaltyt,rusatndfaith.

virtueass we mightstorebondsandstockcertificates

in a safetydepositbox.We mustreachoutwardT.he

Whatdoesthesearchfordistincticvhearactehrold

manwhois buildinga self-relianctharactewrould out as a reward?To havea mindthatrisesabove

ratheprlayonepieceofmusicthanlistentoa hundred fortune'tshreatsandpromisest;o acceptallthat

recitalsh;e wouldratherstrikeoutona cornerlot happensas if youwantedit thatway;to be neither

thanbea spectatoarta worldseriegsame.

open-armendorrunawayinthefaceofdanger;to be

shapingyourfortuneinsteadof waitingforit;to Persistenicnetryingismorelikelytowinoutthan pursuelifewithcleanhands,spurninegveryopportusittinagroundwaitinfgorthelightninogfinspiration nitytotakeadvantaogfesomeoneelse'ssacrifiocreloss. to strikeB.yrond,espitheisclub-foolte,arnetdo dance

perfectlyt,hestutteriDnegmosthenbeescamea perfect Thebestmeasuroefoursuccesisnlife,saidH.G.

oratora,ndBeethovenl,osinghishearingf,oughthis Wells,is theratioof ouraccomplishmenttosour

way to incomparablmeusic.

capabilitieAsb.rahamLincolnputit thisway:"I am

We needzestin livingT.hemanofsoundcharacter not boundto succeed,but I am boundto liveup findshisdaysfarfromtedious.He approachensew to whatlightI have."

ptlasesof lifeeagerlyw,elcomeesxperiencet,empts lifeto givehimas muchas he canbear.He hasno timeforgloom.

Therewardforbuildincgharactemraynot be anythingof materiavlalue,eventhoughbeinga person of charactecrontributetsowardmaterialgainsand

Tobuildcharacterrequirecsourageandendurance. enhancetsheirvalue.Weshouldrecallthattheprize

Thosewhoenjoytheviewfromthetopof a mountain givenattheOlympicgamesof oldwasonlya garland

do notwhimperaboutthescratchetsheysuffereodn madeoftheleavesofthewildolive.TheGreekscared

the wayup.

moreforhonourthanriches.

~k

Authorizaesd seconedlaslmall, Pa~tOfficeDepartmentO,ttawa

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