Character Is What You Are in the Dark

From Dwight L. Moody we turn to a short, challenging sentence: “Character is what you are in the dark.” Every man is two things at least — what others see and what he is inside. Both are important, but what he is unseen inside is the measure of the man, and can, in part, be appraised by the answer to a series of questions such as these (and many more): What would he do with uncounted money? What would he do if he found something that belonged to someone else? What he would do if he were able to take unfair advantage of anyone? How would he work when he is paid by someone without being watched? What does he think when he is alone? —and doesn’t have to think? How faithfully and considerately does he live with his loved ones? How would he act away from home where he was not known? If we could only count on laws and locks, if we could only count on physical force; if we can’t count on honor, if we can’t count on character, there isn’t much we can count on. Words are sometimes used to conceal what is inside, to cover up true intent. But words won’t finally cover the flaws — and a surface politeness will not make anyone safe from anyone who is not sincere. What a person thinks of himself is as important as what others think of him: what he really sincerely knows he is. Self-respect is as important as the respect of others, and this world will be safe only as we live so that we can sincerely respect ourselves. We know; God knows; and we ought to keep straight with us and with Him. But finally, no doubt, we shall judge ourselves. This is one of the frightening facts that awaits us all; that we shall see and know what we are inside; that we shall ultimately not be able to deceive even ourselves. And so, the force of this challenging, short sentence: “Character is what you are in the dark.”