Character

ebook Building Integrity, Courage & Purpose as the True Foundations of Greatness · The Library of Alexandria

By Samuel Smiles

cover image of Character

Sign up to save your library

With an OverDrive account, you can save your favorite libraries for at-a-glance information about availability. Find out more about OverDrive accounts.

   Not today

Find this title in Libby, the library reading app by OverDrive.

Download Libby on the App Store Download Libby on Google Play

Search for a digital library with this title

Title found at these libraries:

Library Name Distance
Loading...

What if the most enduring path to success was built not on ambition-but on integrity?

Character by Samuel Smiles is a profound meditation on the true essence of greatness. First published in 1871, it remains a vital work in the canon of personal development, offering a compelling case that character-not talent, wealth, or social rank-is the real measure of a life well lived.

With eloquent prose and countless historical examples, Smiles explores the virtues that strengthen the soul and shape nations: truthfulness, self-control, patience, duty, perseverance, and compassion. Unlike fleeting achievements, these inner qualities forge a moral compass that guides us through adversity, leadership, and purpose.

This modernized edition brings Smiles' essential ideas to a new generation of readers, distilling wisdom that speaks directly to those seeking fulfillment in a noisy, distracted world. It is not a how-to book on personal branding or performance hacks-but a guide to becoming the kind of person the world quietly admires and deeply trusts.

What You'll Discover in This Modern Edition of Character:

  • The Timeless Value of Inner Strength - Why integrity, humility, and courage remain the foundation of all lasting success
  • Powerful Examples of Great Men and Women - Real-life stories of leaders, reformers, and everyday heroes who exemplified moral excellence
  • A Guide for Personal Development - Practical reflections on how to live with purpose, discipline, and consistency
  • A Moral Framework for Modern Life - Discover why character is the antidote to corruption, superficiality, and entitlement
  • A Philosophy of Self-Respect and Service - Learn how personal virtue contributes to public good
  • In an age obsessed with external achievement, Character is a refreshing call to return to the fundamentals of personal greatness.

    Become the kind of person others count on-read Character and begin building the foundation that never fails.

    Character