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 the power of the feelings that he subdues, not by the power of the feelings that subdue him. The strongest man is he, who, while sensitive to abuse, will yet restrain passion and forgive his enemies. Such men are true heroes.
(1TT 602.1)
Many have such meager ideas of what they may become that they will ever remain dwarfed and narrow, when, if they would improve the powers which God has given them, they might develop a noble character and exert an influence that would win souls to Christ. Knowledge is power; but intellectual ability, without goodness of heart, is a power for evil.
(1TT 602.2)
God has given us our intellectual and moral powers, but to a great extent every person is the architect of his own character. Every day the structure is going up. The word of God warns us to take heed how we build, to see that our building is founded upon the eternal Rock. The time is coming when our work will stand revealed just as it is. Now is the time for all to cultivate the powers which God has given them, that they may form characters for usefulness here and for a higher life hereafter.
(1TT 602.3)
Every act of life, however unimportant, has its influence in forming the character. A good character is more precious than worldly possessions, and the work of forming it is the noblest in which men can engage.
(1TT 602.4)
Characters formed by circumstance are changeable and discordant—a mass of contraries. Their possessors have no high aim or purpose in life. They have no ennobling influence upon the characters of others. They are purposeless and powerless.
(1TT 603.1)
The little span of life allotted us here should be wisely improved. God would have His church a living, devoted, working church. But our people, as a body, are far from this now. God calls for strong, brave souls, for active, living Christians, who are following the true Pattern, and who will exert a decided influence for God and the right. The Lord has committed to us, as a sacred trust, most important and solemn truths, and we should show their influence upon our lives and characters.
(1TT 603.2)
In the Olympic games to which the apostle Paul calls our attention, those engaged in the races were required to make most thorough preparations. For months they were trained by different masters in the physical exercises calculated to give strength and vigor to the body. They were restricted to such food as would keep the body in the most healthy condition, and their clothing was such as would leave every organ and muscle untrammeled.
(1TT 603.3)
Now if those who were to engage in running a race for earthly honor were obliged to submit to such severe discipline in order to succeed, how much more necessary it is for those who are to engage in the work of the Lord to be thoroughly disciplined and prepared, if they would be successful! Their preparation should be as much more thorough, their earnestness and self-denying efforts as much greater, than were those of the aspirants for worldly honors, as heavenly things are of more value than earthly. The mind, as well as the muscles, should be trained to the most diligent and persevering efforts. The road to success is not a smooth way over which we are borne in palace cars, but it is a rugged path filled with obstacles which can be surmounted only by patient toil.—1889, Testimonies for the Church 5:552.
(1TT 603.4)
How little we know of the bearing our acts will have upon the future history of ourselves and others. Many think it is of little importance what they do. It will do no harm for them to attend this concert, or unite with the world in that amusement, if they wish to do so. Thus Satan leads and controls their desires, and they do not consider that the results may be most momentous. It may be the link in the chain of events which binds a soul in the snare of Satan and determines his eternal ruin.
(1TT 604.1)
Every act, however small, has its place in the great drama of life. Consider that the desire for a single gratification of appetite introduced sin into our world, with its terrible consequences. Unhallowed marriages of the sons of God with the daughters of men resulted in apostasy which ended in the destruction of the world by a flood. The most trifling act of self-indulgence has resulted in great revolutions. This is the case now. There are very few who are circumspect. Like the children of Israel, they will not take heed to words of counsel, but follow their own inclination. They unite with a worldly element in attending gatherings where they will be brought into notice, and thus lead the way and others follow. What has been done once will be done again by themselves and many others. Every step these take makes a lasting impression, not only on their own consciences and habits, but upon those of others. This consideration gives awful dignity to human life.—1882, Testimonies for the Church 5:92, 93.
(1TT 604.2)
We shall be individually, for time and eternity, what our habits make us. The lives of those who form right habits, and are faithful in the performance of every duty, will be as shining lights, shedding bright beams upon the pathway of others; but if habits of unfaithfulness are indulged, if lax, indolent, neglectful habits are allowed to strengthen, a cloud darker than midnight will settle on the prospects in this life and forever debar the individual from the future life.—1880, Testimonies for the Church 4:452.
(1TT 604.3)
The whole Bible is a revelation of the glory of God in Christ. Received, believed, obeyed, it is the great instrumentality in the transformation of character. And it is the only sure means of intellectual culture.—1904, Testimonies for the Church 8:319.
(1TT 605.1)
The religion of Christ never degrades the receiver; it never makes him coarse or rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate or hardhearted. On the contrary, it refines the taste, sanctifies the judgment, and purifies and ennobles the thoughts, bringing them into captivity to Christ. God’s ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach. He has given in His holy law a transcript of His character.—1904, Testimonies for the Church 8:63.
(1TT 605.2)
The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness. There is opened before us a path of constant advancement. We have an object to gain, a standard to reach, that includes everything good and pure and noble and elevated. There should be continual striving and constant progress onward and upward toward perfection of character.—1904, Testimonies for the Church 8:64.
(1TT 605.3)
Don’t Send the Children too Early to School, The Bible Echo, June 28, 1897.
The Need of Reform in Our Educational Work, General Conference Daily Bulletin, March 6, 1899 The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge, General Conference Daily Bulletin, March 6, 1899 The Need of Church Schools, General Conference Daily Bulletin, March 6, 1899 The Apostle Paul and Manual Labor, The Review and Herald, March 6, 13, 1900 The Student’s s Privileges and Responsibilities, The Youth’s Instructor, May 3, 10, 1900 The example of Solomon, The Bible Echo, May, 1900 Our Words, The Youth’s Instructor, July 26, 1900 Our Influence, The Youth’s Instructor, August 2, 1900 A Lesson from Daniel’s Experience, The Youth’s Instructor, September 6, 1900 Words to the Youth, The Youth’s Instructor, October 25, 1900 The Burning Bush, The Youth’s Instructor, December 13, 1900 From the Natural to the Spiritual, Christ’s Object Lessons, 17-27 The Talents, Christ’s Object Lessons, 325-369 Children’s Meetings and Church Schools, Testimonies for the Church, 6:105-109 Need of Educational Reform, Testimonies for the Church, 6:126-140 Hindrances to Educational Reform, Testimonies for the Church, 6:141-151 Character and Work of Teachers, Testimonies for the Church, 6:152-161 Words from a Divine Instructor, Testimonies for the Church, 6:162-167 School Homes, Testimonies for the Church, 6:168-170 Industrial Reform, Testimonies for the Church, 6:176-180 The Avondale School Farm, Testimonies for the Church, 6:181-198 Church Schools, Testimonies for the Church, 6:193-205
School Management and Finance, Testimonies for the Church, 6:206-218 The Importance of Voice Training, Testimonies for the Church, 6:380-383 The Relief of Our Schools, Testimonies for the Church, 6:468-478 Idleness is Sin, The Youth’s Instructor, January 31, February 7, 1901 Our Duty as Parents, Signs of the Times, April 3, 1901 How to Meet Criticism, The Youth’s Instructor, April 4, 1901 No Other Gods Before Me, The Review and Herald, September 10, 1901 The Mother’s Work, Signs of the Times, January 1, 1902 God’s Purpose for the Youth, The Youth’s Instructor, February 13, 1902 Lesson for Mothers Signs of the Times, Signs of the Times, February 26, 1902 The Blessing of Labor, The Youth’s Instructor, February 27, 1902 What Shall the Youth Read? The Youth’s Instructor, October 9, 1902 Centers of Influence, Testimonies for the Church, 7: 231-234 To the Teachers in Our Schools, Testimonies for the Church, 7: 267-276 The Divine Teacher, The Youth’s Instructor, March 19, 1903 Sowing Beside all Waters, The Review and Herald, July 14, 1903 Words to Parents Signs of the Times, Signs of the Times, September 16 , 1903 Lessons from the Life of Daniel, The Youth’s Instructor, April 23-February 2, 1904 1903 Publication of the book “ Education (See table of contents for topics treated) Lessons from the Life of Daniel, The Youth’s Instructor, March 8, 1904 Cooperation between the Home and School, The Review and Herald, April 21, 1904
God in Nature, The Signs of the Times, May 5, 12, 19, 1909 Home Schools, The Review and Herald, May 6, 1909. Christ the Example of the Children and Youth, The Youth’s Instructor, May 25, 1909.
The Knowledge Received through God’s Word, The Ministry of Healing, 458-466 (1909) Decision of CharacterThe Youth’s Instructor, January 25, 1910 The Gift of Speech, The Review and Herald, May 12, 1910 Unholy Knowledge, The Review and Herald, August 4, 1910 Temperance in the Family, Signs of the Times, September 13, 1910 The Mother a Missionary, Signs of the Times, September 20, 1910 The Father’s Duty, Signs of the Times, October 18, 1910 Christian Homes, The Review and Herald, November 22, 1910 The Home School, Signs of the Times, January 12, 1911 Walk in the Light, The Youth’s Instructor, January 17, 1911 Woman in the Home, Signs of the Times, April 4, 1911 Woman in the Home, Signs of the Times, June 30, 1911 Parents as Character Builders, Signs of the Times, October 5, 1911 A Godly Example in the Home, Signs of the Times, October 12, 1911 A Message to Parents, The Review and Herald, February 1, 8, 1912 Words to the Young, The Youth’s Instructor, April 23, 1912 Training the Youth to be Workers, The Review and Herald, May 16, 1912 Young Men as Missionaries, The Review and Herald, May 23, 1912