“The great nature makes its own environment, and dominates circumstance.”

Expressing her belief in the power of character to overcome circumstances · Essay, Obstacles

• Character
• Circumstance
• Strength

“The longer we live the more we should realize the folly and vulgarity of ill-temper.”

Connecting maturity with greater emotional restraint · Essay, The Heart of the New Thought

• Age
• Anger
• Character

“He is never dependent for more than a temporary period.”

Linking personal development with eventual independence · Essay, The Heart of the New Thought

• Character
• Independence
• Resilience

“The man of symmetrically developed character is never a pauper.”

Arguing that a fully developed character provides a deeper form of independence · Essay, The Heart of the New Thought

• Character
• Independence
• Wealth

“There is no such thing as failure for the man or woman of character.”

Defining moral integrity as a form of success that cannot be defeated by circumstances · Essay, The Heart of the New Thought

• Character
• Failure
• Success

“You need no outlay of money, no assistance from those in power, no influence.”

Insisting that character does not depend upon privilege or social influence · Essay, The Heart of the New Thought

• Character
• Equality
• Independence

“Out of the experiences which you have passed through you are going to build a noble and splendid character, and a successful career.”

Encouraging readers to transform experience into character and achievement · Essay, The Heart of the New Thought

• Character
• Experience
• Success

“Would you be happy and successful? Then set yourself to build character.”

A concise statement of her philosophy of happiness and success · Essay, The Heart of the New Thought

• Character
• Happiness
• Success

“The man who has made the development of a noble and harmonious character the business of his life, accepts his sorrows as means of greater growth.”

Viewing suffering as something that can deepen rather than destroy character · Essay, The Heart of the New Thought

• Character
• Growth
• Sorrow

“To possess character is to be useful, and to be useful is to be independent, and to be useful and independent, is to be happy, even in the midst of sorrow.”

Linking character, usefulness, independence and happiness · Essay, The Heart of the New Thought

• Character
• Happiness
• Independence

“Character Building must be done alone, and by yourself. The ground must be cleansed of debris, and the structure must be erected stone by stone.”

Presenting self-development as patient, personal labour · Essay, The Heart of the New Thought

• Character
• Perseverance
• Work

“It makes no difference how lowly your sphere in life may be, and no matter how limited your environment, you can build your character if you will.”

Arguing that character is available to everyone regardless of circumstances · Essay, The Heart of the New Thought

• Character
• Equality
• Opportunity

“Character is the result of the cultivation of the highest and noblest qualities in human nature, and putting those qualities to practical use.”

Connecting character with both moral cultivation and practical action · Essay, The Heart of the New Thought

• Action
• Character
• Goodness

“There is one and only one main object in life—the building of character.”

Placing moral and personal development above conventional measures of success · Essay, The Heart of the New Thought

• Character
• Life
• Purpose

“I expect that this journey will be useful to me; if only it strengthens the character needed to undertake and accomplish difficult things, that alone will be enough benefit.”

Original: Spodziewam się, że ta podróż będzie mi użyteczną — chociażby tylko ustaliła moc charakteru, którego potrzeba do przedsięwzięcia i wykonania rzeczy połączonej z trudami znacznymi, to już dosyć będę z niej miał korzyści. — Travel is valued not merely for what it reveals but for the character it demands. · Letter to his mother, 24 August 1836 (Polish)

• Adventure
• Character
• Endurance

“We need mothers who are capable of being character builders, patient, loving, strong, and true, whose homes will be uplifting power in the race.”

She connects patient and loving family life with the moral renewal of the wider community. · Address, Enlightened Motherhood, 1892

• Character
• Home
• Motherhood

“It is not through sex but through character that the best influence of women upon the life of the nation must be exerted.”

She locates women's political value in character rather than in an assumed innate moral superiority. · Speech, Woman's Political Future, 1893

• Character
• Politics
• Women

“It is the women of a country who help to mold its character, and to influence if not determine its destiny.”

She gives women a central role in shaping the moral and political future of society. · Speech, Woman's Political Future, 1893

• Character
• Destiny
• Women

“There is one aristocracy which must ever outrank them all, and that is the aristocracy of character.”

A memorable elevation of moral character above inherited status, talent or wealth. · Speech, Woman's Political Future, 1893

• Character
• Equality
• Values

“More than the changing of institutions we need the development of a national conscience, and the upbuilding of national character.”

She argues that lasting reform requires moral transformation as well as institutional change. · Speech, Woman's Political Future, 1893

• Change
• Character
• Conscience

“Debs is sincere. His heart is as gentle as a woman's and as fresh as a mountain brook.”

An unusually lyrical description of sincerity, gentleness and moral freshness in a friend. · Conversation about Eugene V. Debs

• Character
• Friendship
• Kindness

“The desire to be loved is natural, but the desire to make oneself worthy of love is more important.”

Turning the longing for affection towards personal character and responsibility. · Journal

• Character
• Love
• Responsibility

“You will do what he wants: he will not do what you want.”

Illustrating the power of someone who cannot be bought or intimidated. · Speech, Values in Life, 1907

• Character
• Independence
• Power

“You may meet that man on your farm, in your village, or in your legislature.”

Suggesting that moral independence can appear in every sphere of ordinary life. · Speech, Values in Life, 1907

• Character
• Independence
• Society