Character And Integrity

If you live your life by being true to yourself and others, you will reap the benefits.

- Ramkumar S

When Martin Luther King said he looked forward to the day when all Americans would be judged solely 'by the content of their character', he was talking about the most important desired human quality. Of course, the content of character applies to all people in the world.

Seeing Swami Vivekananda in his traditional saffron-colored turban and Angarakha clothing, one westerner said to him, “You need to wear proper clothes to be a gentleman.” Swami Vivekananda replied, “In your culture, dress makes a gentleman in you whereas in our culture it is character that is what makes us a gentleman.”

Character is that which defines you. It's what people see in you. It's what people will say about you. In fact, character is one of the most important things you could ever possess. Character is something that you hold fast to the human inside you, and what people see in you on the outside. More importantly, it is something that God sees in you always. You can fool men many times with your character, but you can't fool God.

Intelligence + Character = True education

where,

Intelligence = Knowledge + Skills
Character = Trustworthiness + Respect + Responsibility + Fairness + Caring + Citizenship.

Academics in schools and colleges are given so much importance these days since it is the gateway to prepare students for the future and provide security, comfort and luxury; but little or nothing is being done to improve their character. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Education which does not mould character is absolutely useless.” That is why it is so important to lead a life where one adheres to good morals and ethics inside the house and where one is a role model to our children, for they are the future citizens of the world. There is nothing the Father of the Nation can do if the father inside the house is not okay.