Character isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build, choice by choice, word by word and action by action. At its heart is integrity, the moral backbone that keeps you grounded when life tests your values.
Whether you’re a business owner making tough calls, a political leader navigating public trust or simply someone striving to live authentically, integrity shapes how people see you—and more importantly, who you really are. These “true character” quotes offer timeless wisdom and powerful reminders to stand firm, lead with purpose and live with honor.
Quotes About Character and Integrity to Help You Stand Firm
Integrity is the cornerstone of character because it reflects a person’s commitment to honesty, accountability and doing what’s right—even when no one is watching. These “good character” quotes demonstrate that without integrity, character becomes performative rather than principled.
In business, integrity fosters trust among customers, employees and partners, laying the foundation for long-term success and a strong reputation. For political leaders, integrity is essential to earning public confidence and making ethical decisions that serve the greater good. Whether in leadership, entrepreneurship or everyday life, integrity ensures that actions align with values, making it a non-negotiable trait for anyone who seeks to lead with honorable character, credibility and impact.
- “When you find a man you wish to marry… remember this: You will know what kind of man he is not by the things he says, but by the things he does.” —Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel
- “One’s character is set at an early age. The choices you make now will affect you for the rest of your life… I hate to see you swim out so far you can’t swim back.” —Wendelin Van Draanen, Flipped
- “There was a saying that a man’s true character was revealed in defeat. I thought it was also revealed in victory.” —Alison Goodman, Eon: Dragoneye Reborn
- “A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.” —James Allen, As a Man Thinketh
- “She taught me I should never do anything in private I did not want talked about in public, and cautioned me not to talk in my sleep.” —Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind
- “Unless today is well lived, tomorrow is not important.” —Alan Sakowitz, Miles Away… Worlds Apart
- “In the end, you should always do the right thing even if it’s hard.” —Nicholas Sparks, The Last Song
- “One painful duty fulfilled makes the next plainer and easier.” —Helen Keller, The Story of My Life
- “Choices determine character.” —Brandon Mull, Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary
Related: 55 Determination Quotes to Power Your Passion & Push You Further
Inspiring Sayings to Help Us Have Strength of Character
Strength is a vital part of character because it allows a person to stand firm in their values, even when facing adversity, criticism or temptation. A person of good character displays both emotional and moral strength, choosing integrity over convenience and courage over complacency. These “strength of character” quotes show that this kind of strength isn’t about dominance or power; it’s about resilience.
- “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” —Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
- “Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.” —R.J. Palacio, Wonder
- “Vile and evil are composed of the same letters. One begets the other.” —Nita Prose, The Maid
- “It’s not what you know but the kind of job you do that makes the difference.” —Ben Carson, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
- “I do not believe that gifts, whether of mind or character, can be weighed like sugar and butter.” —Virginia Woolf, A Room of One’s Own
- “A woman can’t do anything about her appearance… Either she’s pretty or she isn’t. But her character is quite another matter.” —Julie Garwood, The Prize
- “Father has a strengthening character like the sun and mother has a soothing temper like the moon.” —Amit Kalantri, Wealth of Words
Famous Quotes to Help Us Strive for Good Character
Good character also encompasses qualities such as empathy, humility, responsibility and fairness. These traits help us build meaningful relationships, earn respect and contribute positively to our communities. Together, these qualities create a well-rounded character that not only shapes who we are but also how we impact the world around us. These famous quotes about character include the well-known John Wooden quote on character, among other favorites.
- “Who we are in the present includes who we were in the past.” —Fred Rogers, Life’s Journeys According to Mister Rogers: Things to Remember Along the Way
- “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.
- “Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” —Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
- “Keep in mind that the true measure of an individual is how he treats a person who can do him absolutely no good.” —Anne Landers
- “Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.” —George Washington
- “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
- “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” —John Wooden
Related: 40 Consistency Quotes to Help Kick-Start Your Future
Character-Building Sayings for Inspiration and Affirmation
Staying true to our morals helps us maintain our good character. If this is something you are striving for, find your favorite of these original character-building quotes by SUCCESS® contributors, which are perfect to add to your journal pages or your Instagram captions.
- “Compassion speaks loudest through action.”
- “Character is what you carry when credit fades.”
- “The best strength lifts others.”
- “Some shine with ego, others with empathy.”
- “A steady soul weathers every kind of storm.”
- “Character is built in silence, tested in storms.”
- “Integrity is doing right, not being right.”
- “Who you are matters more than what you win.”
- “You build your legacy one small choice at a time.”
- “The truest people don’t need to prove it.”
- “Confidence whispers; arrogance yells.”
- “Your values show up when it’s inconvenient.”
- “Apologies reveal strength, not weakness.”
‘Strength of Character’ Quotes from Songs
Song lyrics can be a powerful way to convey what you feel. These quotes about character and integrity come from songs, both new and old. They can be the perfect option for expressing a specific state of mind, whether as an Instagram caption or as part of an inspiration wall.
- “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, stand a little taller…” —Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger”
- “Died a thousand times, managed to survive.” —Madonna, “I Rise”
- “Now I am invincible. No, I ain’t a scared little girl no more.” —Kelly Clarkson, “Invincible”
- “I put my armor on, show you how strong I am.” —Sia, “Unstoppable”
- “You held me down, but I got up… Already brushing off the dust.” —Katy Perry, “Roar”
- “I don’t give a damn what you think, I’m doin’ this for me.” —Eminem, “Not Afraid”
- “If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change.” —Michael Jackson, “Man in the Mirror”
- “I’m not scared to be seen, I make no apologies—this is me.” —Keala Settle, “This Is Me”
- “Don’t lose who you are in the blur of the stars.” —Jesse J, “Who You Are”
- “To be yourself is all that you can do.” —Audioslave, “Be Yourself”
Character Is Built One Choice at a Time
In the end, character isn’t proven in moments of ease—it’s revealed in how we respond to challenge, temptation and the everyday decisions that shape our lives. Integrity, strength, empathy and humility aren’t just admirable traits; they’re guiding forces that influence how we treat others, how we lead and how we live with ourselves. Let these quotes serve not just as inspiration, but as reminders that character is a lifelong practice. With each honest word, each courageous act and each kind gesture, we become the person we aspire to be.
Photo by KieferPix/Shutterstock.
