Ezra Taft Benson Quotes

Character is in turn the enduring source of virtue. It stands by itself and excites admiration in others. It is not obedience to authority, and while it is often consistent with and reinforced by religious belief, it is not piety.

Virtue, though she gets her beginning from nature, yet receives her finishing touches from learning.

We become just by the practice of just actions, self-controlled by exercising self-control, and courageous by performing acts of courage.

In other words, character is far more important than intellect to the race as to the individual. We need intellect, and there is no reason why we should not have it together with character; but if we must choose between the two we choose character without a moment's hesitation.

True education does not consist merely in the acquiring of a few facts of science, history, literature, or art, but in the development of character.

In the great battle of life, no brilliancy of intellect, no perfection of bodily development, will count when weighed in the balance against the assemblage of virtues, active and passive, of moral qualities which we group together under the name of character.

A good man will certainly also possess courage; but a brave man is not necessarily good.

If you do not know the laws of right conduct, you cannot form your character.

The only word for goodness is goodness, and it is not enough.

A good moral character is the first essential. It is highly important not only to be learned but to be virtuous.

Good moral character is the first essential in a man.

When one has no character, one HAS to apply a method. Here it did wonders incontrovertibly, and I am living on the site of one of the greatest crimes in human history.

It is character that counts in a nation as in a man.

I have seen men incapable of the sciences, but never any incapable of virtue.

To be good and disagreeable is high treason against the royalty of virtue.

When some English moralists write about the importance of having character, they appear to mean only the importance of having a dull character.

Virtue is not the absence of vices or the avoidance of moral dangers; virtue is a vivid and separate thing, like pain or a particular smell.

You may fill your heads with knowledge or skillfully train your hands, but unless it is based upon high, upright character, upon a true heart, it will amount to nothing. You will be no better than the most ignorant.

Strong moral character results from consistent correct choices in the trials and testing of life. Your faith can guide you to those correct choices.

Worthy character is best forged from a life of consistent, correct choices centered in the teachings of the Master.

At the heart of Christian ethic is humility; at the heart of its parodies, pride. Different roads with different destinations, and the destinations color the character of those who travel by them.

Is virtue a thing remote? I wish to be virtuous, and lo! Virtue is at hand.

I have known persons without a friend--never any one without some virtue. The virtues of the former conspired with their vices to make the whole world their enemies.

There has never been a man mean and at the same time virtuous.

There is no royal road or ready way to virtue.