Essay on Character by Read Wheeler of Year 12

‘Character is much easier kept than Recovered’

“Character is much easier kept than recovered” I believe this statement by Thomas Paine is very true. As society develops and the media becomes more intrusive in people’s lives, the integrity of the individual, whether that is a world leader, a sportsman, teacher, etc is under closer scrutiny than ever. Once a person has been seen to do wrong this is what will be etched in people’s minds and all the good they have done will be a distant memory.

Throughout the ages men have been judged on their character. Those men of history past, may to us seem to be men of no integrity and no moral sense at all but we must remember that times have changed and what was accepted many years ago as common practise is no longer acceptable in our society. Publilus Syrus uttered the words, “What is left when honour is lost” way back in the first century BC. In these times a man’s honour was everything and any person who questioned a man’s integrity was at risk of death. Take Genghis Khan, at the height of his power, master of the largest land empire ever created in one person's lifetime. While he lived, he was the realm, the law, the government, the ultimate jurist over life and death among the Mongols. But despite his iron will, foresight and genius in political and military affairs, Genghis Khan never forgot his roots. He believed the independent, less complicated nomad's way of life was superior to that of Asia's "settled and civilized" people. He saw them as forever being slaves either to material possessions, conquerors or both and believed nomads were destined to rule over sedentary people. As a continuous reminder of his nomad heritage, he always kept a square of gray felt under his throne. The integrity of men is to be measured by their conduct, not by their possessions. — Junius. Looking back today Genghis Khan was one of the most brutal men in our history and yet he had millions who were prepared to follow him, they believed that he was a man with integrity and stood up for what he believed. It was the way of the world in those times, death and brutally were an accepted way of life.

Adolf Hitler is another who caused millions of deaths and yet had millions of followers. The propaganda machine worked overtime and he was seen as a man of standing, a great leader who would gain back the land and industry stolen from Germany after the First World War and the signing of the treaty of Versailles. He too was seen as a man of integrity, a man who stood up for his people during hard times. "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."— Abraham Lincoln. However once Hitler’s true character was uncovered he had no hope of redeeming himself to the world and the rest is history, so they say.

William Clinton the 42^nd president of the United States and one of the most charismatic leaders of our time will not be remembered for all the good that he did during his two full terms in office but for the words,” I did not have sexual relations with that woman” . His character was forever tarnished by his actions with Monica Lewinsky, but more so by the fact that he lied about it and was caught out. Tiger Woods is another high profile man who has been thrust into the spotlight due to his infidelity. Even if he goes on to recover his golfing prowess he will always be Tiger the Cheetah.Nobody is ever perfect but we can learn from the mistakes of others. Trust is rebuilt by focusing not on what the other person did or did not do but on critiquing one's own behaviour, improving one's trustworthiness, and focusing attention not on words and promises but on actions, attitudes, and ways of being."— Kenneth Cloke and Joan Goldsmith. Today, with the advances in technology we must be even more careful to live our lives with the values that we believe in. Facebook, Bebo and Twitter are dangerous tools and I believe will be the next means of the downfall of many men. What we do now as teenagers may come back to haunt us at a later date. Many in society today think that they are owed a living, that things will be handed to them or they can just take them and that it is their right to have them. But in the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “There are seven things that will destroy us: Wealth without work; Pleasure without conscience; Knowledge without character; Religion without sacrifice; Politics without principle; Science without humanity; Business without ethics.

When I looked up the word integrity in the dictionary I found that it stemmed from the Latin adjective integer (whole, complete)It gave three different meanings:

1. Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.

2. The state of being unimpaired; soundness.

3. The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.

Really it is all three; a man with integrity follows a moral and ethical code, is sound, and has wholeness or harmony within himself. Aristotle once said "Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting in a particular way." Following an ethical code in life is I believe essential to becoming a good leader. People will judge you on whether you behave according to the values, beliefs and principles you claim to hold. "Integrity simply means not violating one's own identity." - Erich Fromm

Read Wheeler 12RH ;