Integrity Makes the Character

Studying is a very good and intelligent thing that can shape one’s character to a certain extent. Yet, no amount of studied books and no amount of diplomas can produce integrity. Integrity is not something that can be achieved in school, regardless or the school’s fame and in the same time, integrity is the most wanted quality, especially in positions of great responsibility.

It is very interesting to observe that you can see a person’s character in the smallest things, it doesn’t take much to realize if you can rely on a person or not. The one who is honest in the small things will also be honest in the big ones and the one who lacks integrity in small things will not have it in important matters as well.

Consequently, think about this: has your friend lied about buying milk instead of cherries or soap instead of washing powder? (This is just an example of small matters) If so, don’t be surprised when he/she’ll lie about important things as well…in fact that is only a matter of time.

Sometimes we think we can change people…well, I wouldn’t count on that, I’d let God do that job if He will.

There was a company that recruited personnel and they said "We don’t hire people to motivate them; we hire motivated people". It is something like that with integrity too.

I’ll let you read what presidents and other people said during the history about the importance of integrity in one’s character:

"Truthfulness is the main element of character." - Brian Tracy

"Him who steals an egg today, will steal a cow tomorrow" Romanian proverb

"There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience." French Proverb

'They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin

"From long familiarity, we know what honor is. It is what enables the individual to do right in the face of complacency and cowardice. It is what enables the soldier to die alone, the political prisoner to resist, the singer to sing her song, hardly appreciated, on a side street." Mark Helprin

"Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones." Phillips Brooks

"The man that makes a character, makes foes." Edward Young

"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

"I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside me." Abraham Lincoln

"With all the power that a President has, the most important thing to bear in mind is this: You must not give power to a man unless, above everything else, he has character. Character is the most important qualification the President of the United States can have." Richard Nixon (1913-1994)

"It is our character that supports the promise of our future - far more than particular government programs or policies." William J. Bennet - writer and former Secretary of Education

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved." Helen Keller (1880-1968) American blind and deaf writer/lecturer

"The best index to a person's character is (a) how he treats people who can't do him any good, and (b) how he treats people who can't fight back." Abigail Van Buren ("Dear Abby") advice columnist

"The measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he never would be found out." Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800-1859) - British writer and politician

"Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wing, and only character endures." Horace Greeley (1811-1872) - New York newspaper editor

"A man's character is his fate." Heraclitus (c. 540 - c. 480 BC) - Greek philosopher

Big or small, rich or poor, we all like to deal with honest people, people of their word. Do you like integrity? Be an integer person yourself!