Strength of character consists of two things—power of will and power of self-control. Many youth mistake strong, uncontrolled passion for strength of character; but the truth is that he who is mastered by his passions is a weak man. The real greatness and nobility of the man is measured by the power of the feelings that he subdues, not by the power of the feelings that subdue him. The strongest man is he, who, while sensitive to abuse, will yet restrain passion and forgive his enemies. Such men are true heroes. {FLB 316.2}

Karakterstyrke udgør to ting: Viljeskraften og selvkontrollen. Mange unge går fejl af den stærke ukontrollerede lidenskab, for at have karakterstyrke; men sandheden er at han som beherskes af sine lidenskaber er et svagt menneske. Menneskets storhed og ædelmodighed måles i den følelsesmagt som underlægges, ikke ved den kraft som underlægger ham. Det stærkeste menneske er han, som, så længe han er følsom over for mishandling, vil modstå lidenskab og tilgive sine fjender. Sådanne mennesker er de sande helte.