Character remains true even when everything is lost

Below is one of the most popular quotes on character, but is this what character is about? I think not, this shows respect and manners, not character.

“You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.”—Malcolm S. Forbes.

True character.

I believe the true character of anybody can only be seen when you remove everything of value from them, their job, car, house, it is then that the true character emerges, those with strong character will still be the same person, just a little bit wiser and more experienced. Those with a weaker character will blame the world and everybody on it for their misfortunes, the last person they will blame is themselves.

The following is a story that I found quite amusing when I heard it, I think it gives a little example of character.

On a busy road leading to the coast I passed a man on a regular basis who I had assumed was homeless and probably an alcoholic, because every time I passed along the road he would be sitting on the side of it, looking quite bedraggled with a brown paper bag covering a bottle and a carrier bag which I believed contained his worldly possessions. As the story goes, one day a good Samaritan stopped and offered the man a six-pack of beer, to which the man replied, “I wouldn’t drink that shite,” from that day onwards my respect for the man rose, because regardless of his predicament he was not prepared to lower his standards for the sake of it. The man had character.

The story is an example of character, but it is also an example of that other popular quote. “Do not judge a book by its cover.”

Till later, I hope you have a great day, take care.