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worth must wealth such indeed happy which good character itself citizens the temporary
Character must not be confused with reputation. A man's reputation is what other people think about him—what he appears to be to others. A man's is defined by his real moral condition—what he is. We are not concerned here with reputation, but with character, and when we ask what is the of a good character, we are asking, "What is the value of being a good man?"
To estimate the value of a thing, we compare it with other things. Regarding a good character as a valuable possession, let us compare it with other valuable things a man may possess, as health, wealth, and happiness. Good health is a great blessing, and if we can have both good health and good character, we are happy .
But what if we have to choose between them and only have one? Is it better to be a healthy villain or a sick saint? is a great, though dangerous, blessing, and it is pleasant to be able to be both rich and good. But, if we can't be both, is better: to be rich and mean, cruel, selfish, and sensual, or poor and generous, kind, and pure? All desire happiness, and it is in a glorious gift. But we may pay too dearly, even for happiness. For a time, the wicked may be happy. Is it better to be and bad or good and unhappy? In our hearts, we know that, while all of these possessions are valuable, a strong, noble, and upright is more valuable than all of them. And it is the only thing that will last. Health must fail, riches take wings and fly away, happiness is and intermittent, but character lasts, even beyond the grave.
The value of good character to a nation cannot be overestimated. No nation whose are morally weak and corrupt can last long. The fall of great nations and powerful empires has always been due to moral decay. It is the men and women—the just, merciful, unselfish, pure-minded, conscientious people—in a nation that keep it strong and preserve it from decay. They are the "salt of earth". As one wise man has said, "The best thing a man can do for his city is to be a good man."