“People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.”
- October 11, 1884 – November 7, 1962
- American
- First Lady of the United States, Diplomat, Human Rights Advocate, Chair of the UN Human Rights Commission
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Quote
“People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.”
Explanation
In this quote, Eleanor Roosevelt emphasizes the role of experience—especially when faced with integrity and bravery—in shaping who we become. Growth, in her view, does not happen passively or automatically; it requires one to confront life with honesty and courage. These two qualities are essential because they allow us to face hardship, learn from failure, and take responsibility, rather than avoid or distort reality.
Roosevelt’s life was filled with personal trials and public responsibilities, and she consistently met them with principle and resolve. From overcoming her own insecurities to taking bold stances on civil rights and international justice, her character was forged through direct engagement with life’s difficulties. This quote reflects her belief that character isn’t inherited—it is earned through the way we respond to experience.
Today, the message holds strong in a world where resilience and authenticity are often tested. Roosevelt reminds us that maturity and integrity arise not from avoiding struggle, but from facing it fully and learning along the way. When we choose truth over comfort and courage over fear, we don’t just survive life—we grow through it.
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