Character Quote by Charles Caleb Colton
“He that is good will infallibly become better, and he that is bad will as certainly become worse; for vice, virtue, and time are three things that never stand still.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Miscellany, 1820
People's moral direction is driven by their current character and the passage of time, causing good to improve and bad to deteriorate.
In simple terms: Good people get better, bad people get worse over time.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how character and time shape behavior.
Themes
morality
change
time
character
growth
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal development
- leadership
- education
- relationship counseling
Key Concepts
Virtue ethics
determinism
temporal dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can one break a negative pattern?
- What habits foster moral improvement?
A Different Perspective
Assumes moral trajectories are fixed; ignores conscious effort to change.
