So far as regards their moral character, the Finns have as little cause for reproach as any other people.

High moral character is not a precondition for great moral accomplishments.

Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike.

A good character may not make us happy, but it does make us worthy of happiness (XXV 1174). He also maintains that people of character have an inner worth, while people of talent have a market value (XXV 1174), and emphasizes that this worth is created by the person himself. Most importantly, however, he claims that character ‘consists in the basic characteristic [GrundAnlage] of the will’ (XXV 1174).

I'm not looking to be famous, but I want a body of work and a moral character that is deserving of fame.

The depth and strength of a human character are defined by its moral reserves. People reveal themselves completely only when they are thrown out of the customary conditions of their life, for only then do they have to fall back on their reserves.