Men of character make a nation great and strong.R W Emerson has very rightly said : Not gold but only men can make a nation great and strong Men who for truth and honour's sake stand fast and suffer long . Character is a virtue.Character is a power .It is consistency in behaviour.There should be harmony in what a person thinks ,speaks and acts .It is one of the most significant qualities of an individual which makes that individual or person important, useful and respectable.It makes him different from other people. Swami Vivekanand reached Chicago in August 1893,a few days prior to his address to the 'World's Parliament of Religions', in Sept.1893.One day an American couple made fun of his ochre robes and said :"You Indians do not know how to dress yourself."Swami ji smiled replied ,"Today I came to know that in your country it is the tailor that frames the personality of a man whereas in my country it is the character of a man that frames it " In the Indian context it is something very sacred thing.It is like a mirror broken once is gone .It is one of the virtues which costitutes the basis of life .Goethe ,a German philosopher and novelist said ,"A talent is formed in solitude and character in the stream of world "It clearly states that character is best formed in the stormy billows of the world. It is very much the social aspect of a man.We can't say anything about the character of a man who is penancing in the caves of Himalayas for many years. How he behaves when he is in the company of the people will reveal to us his character Everybody is a saint when he is all alone and his character gets reflected when he behaves in the society. A man of character preaches what he practises.There is no hiatus between his world of belief and world of action. The absence between precept and practice makes human life meaningless and empty.Glory of character lies in making for pleasing social graces like humility and tolerance.Such qualities must be inculcated in young people during impressionable young age .Education and upbringing are most important along with what a child inherits from his ancestors. A man of character becomes a positive role model for others. He lives a purpose-driven life.He builds a solid reputation and strengthens trust in the minds of masses.He becomes an epitome of respect, fairness and trustworthiness...