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ill…regulated passions； is only a temptation and a snarethe
source； it may be； of infinite mischief to themselves； and often
to others。
On the contrary； a condition of comparative poverty is compatible
with character in its highest form。 A man may possess only his
industry； his frugality； his integrity； and yet stand high in the
rank of true manhood。 The advice which Burns's father gave him
was the best：
〃He bade me act a manly part； though I had ne'er a farthing；
For without an honest manly heart no man was worth regarding。〃
One of the purest and noblest characters the writer ever knew was
a labouring man in a northern county； who brought up his family
respectably on an income never amounting to more than ten
shillings a week。 Though possessed of only the rudiments of
common education； obtained at an ordinary parish school； he was a
man full of wisdom and thoughtfulness。 His library consisted of
the Bible； 'Flavel；' and 'Boston'books which； excepting the
first； probably few readers have ever heard of。 This good man
might have sat for the portrait of Wordsworth's well…known
'Wanderer。' When he had lived his modest life of work and worship；
and finally went to his rest； he left behind him a reputation for
practical wisdom； for genuine goodness； and for helpfulness in
every good work； which greater and richer men might have envied。
When Luther died； he left behind him； as set forth in his will；
〃no ready money； no treasure of coin of any description。〃 He was
so poor at one part of his life； that he was under the necessity
of earning his bread by turning； gardening； and clockmaking。 Yet；
at the very time when he was thus working with his hands； he was
moulding the character of his country； and he was morally
stronger； and vastly more honoured and followed； than all the
princes of Germany。
Character is property。 It is the noblest of possessions。 It is
an estate in the general goodwill and respect of men； and they who
invest in itthough they may not become rich in this world's
goodswill find their reward in esteem and reputation fairly and
honourably won。 And it is right that in life good qualities
should tellthat industry； virtue； and goodness should rank the
highestand that the really best men should be foremost。
Simple honesty of purpose in a man goes a long way in life； if
founded on a just estimate of himself and a steady obedience to
the rule he knows and feels to be right。 It holds a man straight；
gives him strength and sustenance； and forms a mainspring of
vigorous action。 'No man；〃 once said Sir Benjamin Rudyard； 〃is
bound to be rich or great；no； nor to be wise； but every man is
bound to be honest。〃 （4）
But the purpose； besides being honest； must be inspired by sound
principles； and pursued with undeviating adherence to truth；
integrity； and uprightness。 Without principles； a man is like a
ship without rudder or compass； left to drift hither and thither
with every wind that blows。 He is as one without law； or rule； or
order； or government。 〃Moral principles；〃 says Hume； 〃are social
and universal。 They form； in a manner； the PARTY of humankind
against vice and disorder； its common enemy。〃
Epictetus once received a visit from a certain magnificent orator
going to Rome on a lawsuit； who wished to learn from the stoic
something of his philosophy。 Epictetus received his visitor
coolly； not believing in his sincerity。 〃You will only criticise
my style；〃 said he； 〃not really wishing to learn principles。〃
〃Well； but；〃 said the orator； 〃if I attend to that sort of thing；
I shall be a mere pauper； like you； with no plate； nor equipage；
nor land。〃〃I don't WANT such things；〃 replied Epictetus； 〃and
besides； you are poorer than I am； after all。 Patron or no
patron； what care I？ You DO care。 I am richer than you。 I don't
care what Caesar thinks of me。 I flatter no one。 This is what I
have； instead of your gold and silver plate。 You have silver
vessels； but earthenware reasons； principles； appetites。 My mind
to me a kingdom is； and it furnishes me with abundant and happy
occupation in lieu of your restless idleness。 All your
possessions seem small to you； mine seem great to me。 Your desire
is insatiatemine is satisfied。〃 （5）
Talent is by no means rare in the world； nor is even genius。 But
can the talent be trusted？can the genius？ Not unless based on
truthfulnesson veracity。 It is this quality more than any
other that commands the esteem and respect； and secures the
confidence of others。 Truthfulness is at the foundation of all
personal excellence。 It exhibits itself in conduct。 It is
rectitudetruth in action； and shines through every word and
deed。 It means reliableness； and convinces other men that it can
be trusted。 And a man is already of consequence in the world when
it is known that he can be relied on；that when he says he knows
a thing； he does know it；that when be says he will do a thing；
he can do； and does it。 Thus reliableness becomes a passport to
the general esteem and confidence of mankind。
In the affairs of life or of business； it is not intellect that
tells so much as character；not brains so much as heart；not
genius so much as self…control； patience； and discipline；
regulated by judgment。 Hence there is no better provision for the
uses of either private or public life； than a fair share of
ordinary good sense guided by rectitude。 Good sense； disciplined
by experience and inspired by goodness； issues in practical
wisdom。 Indeed； goodness in a measure implies wisdomthe
highest wisdomthe union of the worldly with the spiritual。
〃The correspondences of wisdom and goodness；〃 says Sir Henry
Taylor； 〃are manifold； and that they will accompany each other is
to be inferred； not only because men's wisdom makes them good； but
because their goodness makes them wise。〃 （6）
It is because of this controlling power of character in life that
we often see men exercise an amount of influence apparently out of
all proportion to their intellectual endowments。 They appear to
act by means of some latent power； some reserved force； which acts
secretly； by mere presence。 As Burke said of a powerful nobleman
of the last century； 〃his virtues were his means。〃 The secret is；
that the aims of such men are felt to be pure and noble； and they
act upon others with a constraining power。
Though the reputation of men of genuine character may be of slow
growth； their true qualities cannot be wholly concealed。 They may
be misrepresented by some； and misunderstood by others； misfortune
and adversity may； for a time； overtake them but； with patience
and endurance； they will eventually inspire the respect and
command the confidence which they really deserve。
It has been said of Sheridan that； had he possessed reliableness
of character； he might have ruled the world； whereas； for want of
it； his splendid gifts were comparatively useles