To have Chatacter.

[china]

To have character means,to be able to withstand the false and hold on to the true; but to build character is difficult, because for most people what is said by the book, by the teacher,by the government is more important than to find out things for them self. To think for oneself, to find out what is true and stand by it, without being influenced, whatever life may bring of misery or happiness - that is what builds character.For instance, you do not believe in war, not because of what some reformer or religious teacher has said, but because you have thought it out for yourself. You have investigated, gone into the question, meditated upon it, and for you , all killing is wrong, whether it is killing to eat, killing out of hatred, or killing for the so called love of one's country. Now, if you feel this very strongly and stick to it in spite of everything, regardless of whether you go to prison or are shot for it, as you may be in certain countries, then you will have character. Then character has quite a different meaning, it is not the character which society cultivates. But, you see, you are not encouraged in this direction; and neither the educator nor the student has the vitality, the energy to think out and see what is true, and hold to it, letting the false go. But if you can do this then you won't follow any political or religious leader, because you will be a light unto yourself; and the discovery and cultivation of that light,throughout life, is an education- without any diplomas or degrees.

 

[scratch]

To have character means,to be able to withstand the false and hold on to the true; but to build character is difficult, because for most people what is said by the book, by the teacher,by the government is more important than to find out things for them self. To think for oneself, to find out what is true and stand by it, without being influenced, whatever life may bring of misery or happiness - that is what builds character.For instance, you do not believe in war, not because of what some reformer or religious teacher has said, but because you have thought it out for yourself. You have investigated, gone into the question, meditated upon it, and for you , all killing is wrong, whether it is killing to eat, killing out of hatred, or killing for the so called love of one's country. Now, if you feel this very strongly and stick to it in spite of everything, regardless of whether you go to prison or are shot for it, as you may be in certain countries, then you will have character. Then character has quite a different meaning, it is not the character which society cultivates. But, you see, you are not encouraged in this direction; and neither the educator nor the student has the vitality, the energy to think out and see what is true, and hold to it, letting the false go. But if you can do this then you won't follow any political or religious leader, because you will be a light unto yourself; and the discovery and cultivation of that light,throughout life, is an education- without any diplomas or degrees.

It would be well if character and reputation were used
distinctively. In truth, character is what a person is;
reputation is what he is supposed to be. Character is
in himself, reputation is in the minds of others.
Character is injured by temptations, and by wrongdoing;
reputation by slanders, and libels. Character endures
throughout defamation in every form, but perishes when
there is a voluntary transgression; reputation may last
through numerous transgressions, but be destroyed by a
single, and even an unfounded, accusation or
aspersion.
:canada::canada::canada:

 

[Praxius]

To have character means,to be able to withstand the false and hold on to the true;

Character goes hand in hand with actions and both are what people remember you for. Your character can hold to both the false and the truth.... what one person thinks is false, may actually be true, and vice versa..... but how one person reacts to what they believe or don't may also be a part of their character. Just look at Bush's character and the things he believes in.... man what a character he is. :roll:

but to build character is difficult, because for most people what is said by the book, by the teacher,by the government is more important than to find out things for them self. To think for oneself, to find out what is true and stand by it, without being influenced, whatever life may bring of misery or happiness - that is what builds character. For instance, you do not believe in war, not because of what some reformer or religious teacher has said, but because you have thought it out for yourself. You have investigated, gone into the question, meditated upon it, and for you , all killing is wrong, whether it is killing to eat, killing out of hatred, or killing for the so called love of one's country.

But does that relate to Truth? What someone believes in might not actually be true, regardless of how long they think about it. I might be wrong in the things I believe in, and if that is the case, does this still relate to the above when you mentioned about one's character withstanding false and holding to the truth? Who's truth? Our own or what's accepted by society in general?

Now, if you feel this very strongly and stick to it in spite of everything, regardless of whether you go to prison or are shot for it, as you may be in certain countries, then you will have character.

That's not exactly being full of character, that's just being stone-wall stubbron, refusing to bend for anything or anyone.... it's your way or the highway at all times.... if not, then by the above reasoning, you don't have any character at all.

And if it means I have to be more of a jerkwad stubbron arsepucker then I already am in order to build my character, then I think I'll pass..... and most would be greatful for that as well.... which would give me another kind of character

Then character has quite a different meaning, it is not the character which society cultivates. But, you see, you are not encouraged in this direction; and neither the educator nor the student has the vitality, the energy to think out and see what is true, and hold to it, letting the false go. But if you can do this then you won't follow any political or religious leader, because you will be a light unto yourself; and the discovery and cultivation of that light,throughout life, is an education- without any diplomas or degrees.

So in other words, don't listen to anybody who knows anything, don't learn anything from anyone or any books, etc.... oh and make it up as you go along in order to determine what is true to yourself?

I think that's how crazy cat ladies are created

 

[china]

scratch ,

It would be well if character and reputation were used
distinctively. In truth, character is what a person is;
reputation is what he is supposed to be.

For that reason a man of character is not concern with reputation or what he is suppose to be .
"What is ", is good .To imply "what should be",(better and best) ,is to deny the good - the "what is".

existent