--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Character, not circumstance, makes the…" description: "\"“Character, not circumstance, makes the person.”\" — Booker T. Washington" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/booker-t-washington-2277_character_character-not-circumstance-makes-the-per_3012446.png" --- # Character, not circumstance, makes the person. ![“Character, not circumstance, makes the person.” quote by Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/booker-t-washington-2277_character_character-not-circumstance-makes-the-per_3012446.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/booker-t-washington-2277_character_character-not-circumstance-makes-the-per_3012446.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc6/booker-t-washington-2277_character_character-not-circumstance-makes-the-per_3012446.png) > ““Character, not circumstance, makes the person.”” [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Character, not circumstances, defines a person’s true worth. **In simple terms:** Character defines a person, not circumstances. Key Takeaway Cultivate strong character. Themes character integrity self‑determination resilience morality Mood inspirational serious Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - education - leadership - adversity Key Concepts ethics philosophy personal development Questions to Reflect On - How does character affect success? - What role do external factors play? A Different Perspective Circumstances still influence outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Circumstance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-circumstance-2606041/) [Circumstance Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstance-makes-3964470/) [Makes Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-person-477018/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) ## Related quotes > [Timing really is nearly everything. And what it isn't, circumstance makes up for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-van-zandt/timing-really-is-nearly-everything-and-what-it-isn-t-circumstance/) [Steven Van Zandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-van-zandt/) > [History is the record of encounters between character and circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-creighton/history-is-the-record-of-encounters-between-character-and-circumstance/) [Donald Creighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-creighton/) > [“I don't care anymore. Even if she never speaks to me again because of the press, she's worth it. She makes me a person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-pearce/i-don-t-care-anymore-even-if-she-never-speaks-to-me-again-because-of/) [Jackson Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-pearce/) > [Honesty makes a person so much more attractive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-loveable/honesty-makes-a-person-so-much-more-attractive/) [Arjun Loveable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-loveable/) > [“Memories are what makes each person different.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-wiersbitzky/memories-are-what-makes-each-person-different/) [Shannon Wiersbitzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-wiersbitzky/) > [My biggest job really is to figure other people out. I need to understand what makes a person tick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/my-biggest-job-really-is-to-figure-other-people-out-i-need-to/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [A really great person is the person who makes every person feel great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/a-really-great-person-is-the-person-who-makes-every-person-feel-great/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Stupidity makes a person worthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teejay-david/stupidity-makes-a-person-worthless/) [Teejay David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teejay-david/) > [Suffering is also good, it makes a person rich in charachter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/suffering-is-also-good-it-makes-a-person-rich-in-charachter/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [Whatever it is that makes you the person you are - that's what I love. All of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-vincent/whatever-it-is-that-makes-you-the-person-you-are-that-s-what-i-love/) [Amy Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-vincent/) > [There are always those times when you're going to be down. It's how you step through it that makes you the person you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/there-are-always-those-times-when-you-re-going-to-be-down-it-s-how/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [What makes a person is the ability to look at themselves and deal with their own lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-campbell/what-makes-a-person-is-the-ability-to-look-at-themselves-and-deal/) [Naomi Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-campbell/) > [“I like whatever it is that makes you the person you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-like-whatever-it-is-that-makes-you-the-person-you-are/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Passion makes a person stop eating, sleeping, working, feeling at peace. A lot of people are frightened because, when it appear, it demolishes all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/passion-makes-a-person-stop-eating-sleeping-working-feeling-at-peace/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [What makes a person great isn't what they've done in the world but how they treat others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/what-makes-a-person-great-isn-t-what-they-ve-done-in-the-world-but/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) ## More by Booker T. Washington > [“There are some things that one individual can do for another, and there are some things that one race can do for another. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/there-are-some-things-that-one-individual-can-do-for-another-and/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/think-about-it-we-went-into-slavery-pagans-we-came-out-christians-we/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [I let no man drag me down so low as to make me hate him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/i-let-no-man-drag-me-down-so-low-as-to-make-me-hate-him/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The wisest among my race understand that agitations of social equality is the extremist folly, and that progress in the enjoyment of all privileges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-wisest-among-my-race-understand-that-agitations-of-social/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“I began learning long ago that those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/i-began-learning-long-ago-that-those-who-are-happiest-are-those-who/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [If you truly want to measure the success of a man, you do not measure it by a position he has achieved, but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/if-you-truly-want-to-measure-the-success-of-a-man-you-do-not-measure/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The time will come when the Negro in the South will be accorded all the political rights which his ability, character, and material possessions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-time-will-come-when-the-negro-in-the-south-will-be-accorded-all/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“Kada smo u kontaktu sa drugim čovekom, mi mu ili pomažemo ili smetamo. Nema trećeg: ili ga vučemo na dole, ili ga izvlačimo na…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/kada-smo-u-kontaktu-sa-drugim-ovekom-mi-mu-ili-poma-emo-ili-smetamo/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/excellence-is-to-do-a-common-thing-in-an-uncommon-way/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [We must reinforce argument with results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/we-must-reinforce-argument-with-results/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Mere connection with what is known as a superior race will not permanently carry an individual forward unless the individual has worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/mere-connection-with-what-is-known-as-a-superior-race-will-not/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [No race that has anything to contribute to the markets of the world is long in any degree ostracized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/no-race-that-has-anything-to-contribute-to-the-markets-of-the-world/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The highest test of the civilization of any race is in its willingness to extend a helping hand to the less fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-highest-test-of-the-civilization-of-any-race-is-in-its/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The Negro is not the man farthest down. The condition of the coloured farmer in the most backward parts of the Southern States of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-negro-is-not-the-man-farthest-down-the-condition-of-the-coloured/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“it takes no more time to be polite to every one than it does to be rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/it-takes-no-more-time-to-be-polite-to-every-one-than-it-does-to-be/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) [Explore all 174 Booker T. Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Character, not circumstance, makes the person.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Booker T. 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