Billy Graham Quotes

It is not what he had, or even what he does which expresses the worth of a man, but what he is.

I fear we are too much concerned with material things to remember that our real strength lies in spiritual values.

The only thing we have in this world that is utterly and intrinsically ours is our integrity.

A man who has cured himself of all ridiculous prepossessions, and is fully, sincerely, and steadily convinced, from experience as well as philosophy, that the difference of fortune makes less difference in happiness than is vulgarly imagined; such a one does not measure out degrees of esteem according to the rent-rolls of his acquaintance. ... his internal sentiments are more regulated by the personal characters of men, than by the accidental and capricious favors of fortune.

When you're talkin' about a great man, you're not talking more than one person. It's not about how many people are followin' you, it's about the fact that you're a great man, that's all it's about.

She began to see that character is a better possession than money, rank, intellect, or beauty, and to feel that if greatness is what a wise man has defined it to be, 'truth, reverence, and good will,' then her friend Friedrich Bhaer was not only good, but great.

Character: the grandest thing in the world.

A solemn and religious regard to spiritual and eternal things is an indispensable element of all true greatness.

I wish more of us could understand that our increasing isolation, no matter how much it seems to express pride and self-affirmation, is not the answer to our problems. Rather, the answer is a revival of our ancient commitment to God, who rules over all the peoples of the world and exalts no one over any other, and to the moral and spiritual values which were once legendary in America. We must reach out our hand in friendship both to those who would befriend us and those who would be our enemy.

If you want the secondary greatness of recognized talent, focus first on primary greatness of character.

Doctrine is useless if it is not accompanied by a holy life. It is worse than useless; it does positive harm. Something of 'the image of Christ' must be seen and observed by others in our private life, and habits, and character, and doings.

Man is born with uprightness. If one loses it, he will be lucky if he escapes with his life.

Character is a perfectly educated will.

Lack of ornamentation is a sign of spiritual strength.

Integrity simply means a willingness not to violate one's identity, in the many ways in which such violation is possible.

Love, friendship, respect, admiration are the emotional response of one man to the virtues of another, the spiritual payment given in exchange for the personal, selfish pleasure which one man derives from the virtues of another man’s character.

The place to begin building any relationship is inside ourselves, inside our circle of influence, our own character.

Much of a man's character will be found betokened in his backbone. I would rather feel your spine than your skull, whoever you are. A thin joist of a spine never yet upheld a full and noble soul.

Character is made by what you stand for;reputation by what you fall for.

A noble heart, like the sun, showeth its greatest countenance in its lowest estate.

Have you not budged an inch, then? Such is the daily news. Its facts appear to float in the atmosphere.... We should wash ourselves clean of such news. Of what consequence, though our planet explode, if there is no character involved in the explosion? In health we have not the least curiosity about such events. We do not live for idle amusement. I would not run round a corner to see the world blow up.

How hard you work at correcting your faults reveals your character.

...it's easier to hold to your principles 100% of the time than it is to hold to them 98% of the time.

Skills can be taught. Character you either have or you don't have.

Men of much depth of mind can bear a great deal of counsel; for it does not easily deface their own character, nor render their purposes indistinct.