--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our character is determined not by our…" description: "\"“Our character is determined not by our circumstances but by our reaction to those circumstances.”\" — Charles W. Colson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/charles-w-colson-12999_character_our-character-is-determined-not-by-our-c_227307.jpg" --- # Our character is determined not by our circumstances but… ![“Our character is determined not by our circumstances but by our reaction to those circumstances.” quote by Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/charles-w-colson-12999_character_our-character-is-determined-not-by-our-c_227307.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/charles-w-colson-12999_character_our-character-is-determined-not-by-our-c_227307.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edd/charles-w-colson-12999_character_our-character-is-determined-not-by-our-c_227307.jpg) > ““Our character is determined not by our circumstances but by our reaction to those circumstances.”” [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Character is shaped not by external events but by how we respond to them **In simple terms:** Responses define character, not circumstances Key Takeaway Choose intentional reactions Themes character resilience agency Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal setbacks - career challenges - relationship conflicts Key Concepts Psychology of behavior philosophy of self Questions to Reflect On - How do you control your reactions? - What habits strengthen positive responses? A Different Perspective Responses may be limited by external pressures ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-determined-901908/) [Circumstances Reaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances-reaction-2309580/) [Determined Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined-circumstances-2309579/) [Reaction Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaction-circumstances-2309581/) ## Related quotes > [“Class is not defined by our circumstances - it is our reaction to those circumstances that defines who we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-christy/class-is-not-defined-by-our-circumstances-it-is-our-reaction-to-those/) [Jordan Christy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-christy/) > [Stress comes from within; it is your reaction to circumstances, not the circumstances themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/stress-comes-from-within-it-is-your-reaction-to-circumstances-not-the/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“The only class I'm interested in, is the class of character, determined not by blood or money, but by intent and behavior.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-only-class-i-m-interested-in-is-the-class-of-character-determined/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Every epoch has its character determined by the way its population reacts to the material events which they encounter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/every-epoch-has-its-character-determined-by-the-way-its-population/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Character is determined more by the lack of certain experiences than by those one has had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/character-is-determined-more-by-the-lack-of-certain-experiences-than/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Your character is determined by how you challenge yourself, and how you wrestle with your problems, in a way that is unique toyou.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/your-character-is-determined-by-how-you-challenge-yourself-and-how/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [If you carry the weather with you, then character is determined by the prevailing wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-o-neill/if-you-carry-the-weather-with-you-then-character-is-determined-by-the/) [Jamie O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-o-neill/) > [Our character is determined by what we do if every restraint were removed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lettie-cowman/our-character-is-determined-by-what-we-do-if-every-restraint-were/) [Lettie Cowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lettie-cowman/) > [“One's character is determined not how she gets caught in the downpour of disappointment, but how she finds the hope to look for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colette-freedman/one-s-character-is-determined-not-how-she-gets-caught-in-the-downpour/) [Colette Freedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colette-freedman/) > [The measure of a man’s character is not determined by how he handles his wins, but how he handles his failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/the-measure-of-a-man-s-character-is-not-determined-by-how-he-handles/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [Character is determined by choice, not opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/character-is-determined-by-choice-not-opinion/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“The only measure of judging a human being is through that person’s character, because character is not determined by race, religion, gender or social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-only-measure-of-judging-a-human-being-is-through-that-person-s/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Charles W. Colson > [“But the most dangerous consequence of the naked public square is the loss of community.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/but-the-most-dangerous-consequence-of-the-naked-public-square-is-the/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [“We live in a society in which all transcendent values have been removed and thus there is no moral standard by which anyone can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/we-live-in-a-society-in-which-all-transcendent-values-have-been/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [“Capitalism is astonishingly efficient at generating new wealth, but it operates beneficently only when the market is shaped by moral forces coming from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/capitalism-is-astonishingly-efficient-at-generating-new-wealth-but-it/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [“The greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves,” He said.8”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/the-greatest-among-you-should-be-like-the-youngest-and-the-one-who/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [“(Phil. 4:8). Notice that Paul doesn't limit that principle to spiritual things; he says if anything is excellent. Paul is telling us to train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/phil-4-8-notice-that-paul-doesn-t-limit-that-principle-to-spiritual/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [“The greatest question of our time is not communism versus individualism, not Europe versus America, not even the East versus the West; it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/the-greatest-question-of-our-time-is-not-communism-versus/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [“Millions more are addicted to Internet pornography, which has led to a horrific increase in the sexual exploitation of children and attacks on young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/millions-more-are-addicted-to-internet-pornography-which-has-led-to-a/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [“The Supreme Court’s working definition of religion, “A sincere and meaningful belief which occupies in the life of its possessor a place parallel to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/the-supreme-court-s-working-definition-of-religion-a-sincere-and/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [“But, the skeptic asks, what about the person who never hears the gospel? The apostle Paul tells us that all are without excuse because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/but-the-skeptic-asks-what-about-the-person-who-never-hears-the-gospel/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [“Who is to decide what are the ‘right’ values?” wrote a professor of education. “Does ultimate moral authority lie with institutions such as church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/who-is-to-decide-what-are-the-right-values-wrote-a-professor-of/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [“The Bible teaches that there is a holy God whose law constitutes a transcendent, universally valid standard of right and wrong. Our choice has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/the-bible-teaches-that-there-is-a-holy-god-whose-law-constitutes-a/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [“What they fail to reckon with, however, is the reverse of that slogan: if nothing is worth dying for, is anything worth living for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/what-they-fail-to-reckon-with-however-is-the-reverse-of-that-slogan/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [“The question for the child is not, 'Do I want to be good?"' Bettelheim writes, "but Who do I want to be like?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/the-question-for-the-child-is-not-do-i-want-to-be-good-bettelheim/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [“It's not simply that communists are atheists and want to stamp out religion; it's that they cannot tolerate anyone who worships a King who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/it-s-not-simply-that-communists-are-atheists-and-want-to-stamp-out/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [“Christian patriots spend more time washing feet than waving flags.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/christian-patriots-spend-more-time-washing-feet-than-waving-flags/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) [Explore all 52 Charles W. Colson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) ## 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": "“Our character is determined not by our circumstances but by our reaction to those circumstances.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles W. 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