Home › Contents › Charles Kingsley

Charles Kingsley

B Power of Character. subject to much hesitation in my choice of words, hardly correct in my language, and yet I generally carried, my point." Character creates confidence in men in high stations, as well as in human life.

It was said of the first Emperor Alexander of Russia, that his personal character was equivalent to a constitution. During the wars of the Fronde, Montaigne was the only man among the French gentry who kept his castle gate unbarred; and it is said of him that his personal character was worth more to him than a regiment of horse. That character is power, is true in a much higher sense than that knowledge is power.

Mind without heart, intelligence without conduct, cleverness without goodness, are powers, if they may be powers, only for mischief. We may be instructed or amused by them; but it is sometimes as difficult to admire them as it would be to admire the dexterity of a pickpocket or the horsemanship of a highwayman.

Truthfulness, integrity and goodness-qualities that hang out on any man's breath-form the essence of manly character, or, as one of our writers has it, "that inbred loyalty unto virtue that can serve her without livery."

When Stephen of Colonna fell into the hands of his base assailants, and they asked him in derision, "Where is your fortress?" "Here!" was his bold reply, placing his hand upon his heart. It is in misfortune that the character of the upright man shines forth with the greatest lustre, and when all else fails he takes a stand upon his integrity and courage.

T