A pattern of behavior, decisions, and actions that become habit over a lifetime; It is also the mental and ethical qualities that define a person.These mental and ethical qualities determine the kind of life a person leads, the type of relationships they sustain, the kind of citizen and worker they become, and their future success. ​

Good character is a pattern of behavior, thoughts, and feelings based on virtues such as integrity, self-control, respect, empathy, perseverance, positive attitude, humility, wisdom, and citizenship. It is evidenced by virtuous actions in the moral, performance, intellectual, and civic areas of one's life. Experts have divided character education into four parts - moral character (always choosing to do the right, honest and ethical thing); performance character (maximizing one's performance in every area of his or her life); Intellectual character (having a curiosity for learning); and Civic character (giving back to the community as a contributing member of society).

• Universally accepted standards of conduct
• Universally accepted rules of doing right and avoiding wrong
• EXAMPLES:
• “Treat others as you would want them to treat you” The Golden Rule
  •  “All men are created equal” The Declaration of Independence
  • “Thou shalt not lie, cheat, or steal” The Ten Commandments
  • “Do no harm” Hippocratic Oath
  • “In all things, charity” Richard Baxter

• Morality (morals) comes form the Latin word "mos," meaning "custom."
• A means for evaluating human conduct.
• A person's decision to choose right and avoid wrong. 
• EXAMPLE: “I choose not to cheat on the exam.” 

• Ethics comes from the Greek word "ethos," meaning "character."
• The study of a person's moral choices of right and wrong.
• Note: The ethics of a group may sometimes conflict with an individual’s moral choice.
• EXAMPLE: John is a lawyer who is ethically required to defend his client (legal ethics are group choices among lawyers) even though he knows his client is guilty (individual moral dilemma).

• Very similar, yet morals usually refer to individuals, while ethics usually refer to a group.
• Morals involve an individual's decisions, whereas ethics is a study of right and wrong. 

• Adhering to a moral code of honesty, courage, strength, responsibility and uprightness in everything you do.
• Being true to your word.
• EXAMPLE: “A person lives a life of integrity by having the courage to be honest, truthful, and to keep his promises.”

• Ethics comes from the Greek word "ethos," meaning "character."
• Principles = standards of conduct
• Morality = conforming to those standards of conduct
• Integrity = the quality of always living those standards

• The admirable trait or quality of doing good and avoiding wrong that has become a habit
• Qualities of moral and performance excellence considered to be good

• A quality or standard deemed desirable by an individual, group, or a society

• Values, unlike virtues, are not habits or always acts of moral good

• Virtues are values but many values are not virtues

• EXAMPLE: “John Doe values having many material possessions, having many girlfriends, and being the toughest man on his block.”

• The development of fundamental skills for life, including how to relate with oneself, others and relationships, and work effectively.

• An approach to learning that helps a student become a socially and emotionally skilled person.

• Comprehensive character development programs include SEL.