On Building Character - RBC
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
(4)
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