“We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something…” Nathan Jessup A Few Good Men – Words by Aaron Sorkin
“To be born a gentleman is an accident; to die one is an achievement.” – Fr. Bede Jarrett
“Every time we avoid the easy in favor of what’s right, we create ripples. Character begets more character, weaving together the fabric of our culture, the kind of world we’d rather live in.” – Seth Godin
“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds…” – President Theodore Roosevelt
I’ve been reading a lot about character the last few months. Could be the world and mass multi-media has me overwhelmed by a global lack of character that I’m seeking out good character.
Cultivating good character takes time, it takes consistency and it takes resilience. It has to be achieved, it can’t be inherited, given or taken from someone else. It’s even harder to fake, it is as easy to see good character in a person as it is to see bad.
Thing is most of us are good, most of us do more right than wrong, help when we can, hurt when we see others in pain and suffering. Most of us live one day at a time and try to make the day better for the people we come in contact with.
The quotes above talk about action, the result of actions, and the conscious thought of right action. Maybe one of the reasons people with strong character have little need for talkers and watchers is that they are too busy doing to have time to listen to those who do not.
Be Good,
- Chris