--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a human character to reveal truly…" description: "\"For a human character to reveal truly exceptional qualities, one must have the good fortune to be able to observe its performance over many years. If t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/jean-giono-23708_able_for-a-human-character-to-reveal-truly-ex_1043269.jpg" --- # For a human character to reveal truly exceptional… ![“For a human character to reveal truly exceptional qualities, one must have the good fortune to be able to observe its performance over many years. If this performance is devoid of all egoism, if its guiding motive is unparalleled generosity, if it is absolutely certain that there is no thought of…” quote by Jean Giono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/jean-giono-23708_able_for-a-human-character-to-reveal-truly-ex_1043269.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/jean-giono-23708_able_for-a-human-character-to-reveal-truly-ex_1043269.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/jean-giono-23708_able_for-a-human-character-to-reveal-truly-ex_1043269.jpg) > “For a human character to reveal truly exceptional qualities, one must have the good fortune to be able to observe its performance over many years. If this performance is devoid of all egoism, if its guiding motive is unparalleled generosity, if it is absolutely certain that there is no thought of recompense and that, in addition, it has left its visible mark upon the earth, then there can be no mistake.” [Jean Giono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giono/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Exceptional character is judged over time, requiring selfless, generous actions that leave lasting impact without expectation of reward. **In simple terms:** Great character shows selfless, lasting deeds. Key Takeaway Seek to act without seeking praise. Themes character generosity legacy ego longevity Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - leadership - community service - long‑term projects - mentorship - artistic creation Key Concepts selflessness impact moral integrity Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure true generosity over time? - Can lasting impact be recognized without fame? A Different Perspective Such judgment may overlook hidden motives or systemic constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Egoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egoism/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Good fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-fortune/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Motive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motive/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Qualities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/qualities/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Recompense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recompense/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [That's a wonderful thing, because one of the primary qualities of a good performance is honesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberta-flack/that-s-a-wonderful-thing-because-one-of-the-primary-qualities-of-a/) [Roberta Flack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberta-flack/) > [“Qualities of a Good Nurse: Go," I said. "1.Doesn't put on your disabilities," Isaac said. "2.Gets blood on the first try." I said. "Seriosly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/qualities-of-a-good-nurse-go-i-said-1-doesn-t-put-on-your/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“I didn’t feel that I had any good qualities. Or rather, none were good enough. Nothing I did or said was good enough, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-leatham/i-didn-t-feel-that-i-had-any-good-qualities-or-rather-none-were-good/) [Victoria Leatham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-leatham/) > [“3 qualities of a good management; Honest Hungry & Smart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-kedia/3-qualities-of-a-good-management-honest-hungry-smart/) [Vijay Kedia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-kedia/) > [In the present situation of india no one can survive with the qualities of a good human... 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We have good and bad teas, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/okakura-kakuzo/tea-is-a-work-of-art-and-needs-a-master-hand-to-bring-out-its-noblest/) [Okakura Kakuzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/okakura-kakuzo/) > [“The five qualities of a good goal; It has to ambitious, achievable, accurate and specified, measurable, leads to the feeling of life quality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryam-abdullah-alnaymi/the-five-qualities-of-a-good-goal-it-has-to-ambitious-achievable/) [Maryam Abdullah Alnaymi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryam-abdullah-alnaymi/) > [Self-denial and self-discipline, however, will be recognized as the outstanding qualities of a good soldier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/self-denial-and-self-discipline-however-will-be-recognized-as-the/) [William Lyon Mackenzie King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lyon-mackenzie-king/) > [No one here to count your Qualities, but everyone is good enough to point out your Mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shashank-rayal/no-one-here-to-count-your-qualities-but-everyone-is-good-enough-to/) [Shashank Rayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shashank-rayal/) > [We cannot all hope to combine the pleasing qualities of good looks, brains, and eloquence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/we-cannot-all-hope-to-combine-the-pleasing-qualities-of-good-looks/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I am strong enough, and I have qualities, and when good players come in, I will play with good players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/i-am-strong-enough-and-i-have-qualities-and-when-good-players-come-in/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) ## More by Jean Giono > [I have always hated crowds. I like deserts, prisons, and monasteries. I have discovered, too, that there are fewer idiots at 3000 meters above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-giono/i-have-always-hated-crowds-i-like-deserts-prisons-and-monasteries-i/) [Jean Giono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giono/) > [“Imaginer c'est choisir.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-giono/imaginer-c-est-choisir/) [Jean GIONO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giono/) > [Days begin and end in the dead of night. 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Small enough to call from one side to the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-giono/remember-all-of-man-s-happiness-is-in-the-little-valleys-tiny-little/) [Jean Giono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giono/) > [From the time we began to build houses and cities, since we invented the wheel, we have not advanced one step toward happiness. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-giono/from-the-time-we-began-to-build-houses-and-cities-since-we-invented/) [Jean Giono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giono/) > [All civilized people see the day beginning at dawn or a little after or a long time after or whatever time their work begins;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-giono/all-civilized-people-see-the-day-beginning-at-dawn-or-a-little-after/) [Jean Giono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giono/) > [“And he told stories about the stars above, about the earth below. He told them to make the night pass, and also because his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-giono/and-he-told-stories-about-the-stars-above-about-the-earth-below-he/) [Jean Giono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giono/) > [There are also times in life when a person has to rush off in pursuit of hopefulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-giono/there-are-also-times-in-life-when-a-person-has-to-rush-off-in-pursuit/) [Jean Giono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giono/) > [Boredom is the most horrible of wolves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-giono/boredom-is-the-most-horrible-of-wolves/) [Jean Giono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giono/) [Explore all 15 Jean Giono quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giono/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. 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