Character is what you do when no one is watching

Meaning: True virtue is shown not in public performances but in private actions when there are no witnesses.

Origin: Attributed to John Wooden, American basketball coach; similar ideas appear in Stoic and Confucian philosophy.

Translations

• French: Le caractère, c'est ce qu'on fait quand personne ne regarde (literally: Character is what you do when no one is watching)
• Spanish: El carácter es lo que haces cuando nadie te mira (literally: Character is what you do when no one is watching)
• Japanese: 人格とは誰も見ていない時に何をするかだ (Jinkaku to wa dare mo mite inai toki ni nani wo suru ka da) (literally: Character is what you do when no one is watching)

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