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 his power to subdue his feelings, not by the power of his feelings to subdue him. The strongest man is he who, while sensitive to abuse, will yet restrain passion and forgive his enemies. {CT 222.1}

Karakterstyrke består af to ting - viljen og selvkontrollens kraft. Mange unge vil påtage sig stærke ukontrollerede lidenskaber som om det var karakterstyrke; men sandheden er at ham som mestres af sine lidenskaber er et svagt menneske. Menneskets virkelige storhed og ædelmod måles ved sin kraft til at undertrykke sine følelser, ikke ved hans følelsers magt over ham. Det stærkeste menneske at han der, trods sin følsomhed over for mishandling, vil betvinge sine lidenskaber og tilgive sine fjender.