Middot - Character Traits

“Distance yourself from that which is false.” This implies that not only should a person avoid outright and deliberate lies, he must distance himself from any semblance of falsehood. That is, a person must be even avoid giving a wrong impression.

Man is called upon to overcome his natural desire to take revenge. He must overlook the offense and refrain from retaliating when the opportunity to do so presents itself. Not only should one not take revenge, one should not even hold a grudge.

Tale-bearers and slanderers cause tension and controversy. They claim to have pure intentions, and that they only wish to warn and reprimand people. However, the true nature of their remarks can be discerned in what ultimately results from them.

“Do not place a stumbling block before the blind.” In other words, when asked for advice, a person must give the same advice that he would want given to himself. He should consider the welfare of the one who seeks advice, and nothing else.

Just as it is forbidden to deceive a person monetarily, selling him a product for an exorbitant price, so is it forbidden to deceive a person verbally. It is forbidden to say things which constitute deception, or which cause a person shame or grief.

For a person to develop his personality and improve his character traits properly, he must be aware of himself, his inner resources, and their interrelations. Therefore, we must begin our studies by addressing a most fundamental issue - self-awareness.

One of the misconceptions people have with regard to character traits is the belief that there are "good" character traits and "bad" character traits, and that a person who is born with "good" character traits does not have to work to improve them.