Caitlin McManus
1: Love
Valuing close relations with others, in particular those in which sharing & caring are
reciprocated; being close to people.
2: Gratitude
Being aware of and thankful for the good things that happen; taking time to express thanks.
3: Humor
Liking to laugh and tease; bringing smiles to other people; seeing the light side; making (not
necessarily telling) jokes.
4: Perseverance
Finishing what one starts; persevering in a course of action in spite of obstacles; “getting it out
the door”; taking pleasure in completing tasks.
5: Leadership
Encouraging a group of which one is a member to get things done and at the same time maintain
good relations within the group; organizing group activities and seeing that they happen.
6: Perspective
Being able to provide wise counsel to others; having ways of looking at the world that make
sense to oneself/others.
7: Teamwork
Working well as a member of a group or team; being loyal to the group; doing one's share.
8: Curiosity
Taking an interest in ongoing experience for its own sake; finding subjects and topics
fascinating; exploring and discovering.
9: Kindness
Doing favors and good deeds for others; helping them; taking care of them.
10: Zest
©2018 VIA Institute on Character. All Rights Reserved.
Caitlin McManus
Approaching life with excitement and energy; not doing things halfway or halfheartedly; living
life as an adventure; feeling alive and activated.
11: Bravery
Not shrinking from threat, challenge, difficulty, or pain; speaking up for what’s right even if
there’s opposition; acting on convictions even if unpopular; includes physical bravery but is not
limited to it.
12: Fairness
Treating all people the same according to notions of fairness and justice; not letting feelings bias
decisions about others; giving everyone a fair chance.
13: Humility
Letting one's accomplishments speak for themselves; not regarding oneself as more special than
one is.
14: Creativity
Thinking of novel and productive ways to conceptualize and do things; includes artistic
achievement but is not limited to it.
15: Forgiveness
Forgiving those who have done wrong; accepting others’ shortcomings; giving people a second
chance; not being vengeful.
16: Honesty
Speaking the truth but more broadly presenting oneself in a genuine way and acting in a sincere
way; being without pretense; taking responsibility for one's feelings and actions.
17: Social intelligence
Being aware of the motives/feelings of others and oneself; knowing what to do to fit into
different social situations; knowing what makes other people tick.
18: Prudence
Being careful about one's choices; not taking undue risks; not saying or doing things that might
later be regretted.
19: Hope
©2018 VIA Institute on Character. All Rights Reserved.
Caitlin McManus
Expecting the best in the future and working to achieve it; believing that a good future is
something that can be brought about.
20: Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence
Noticing and appreciating beauty, excellence, and/or skilled performance in various domains of
life, from nature to art to mathematics to science to everyday experience.
21: Judgment
Thinking things through and examining them from all sides; not jumping to conclusions; being
able to change one's mind in light of evidence; weighing all evidence fairly.
22: Love of learning
Mastering new skills, topics, and bodies of knowledge, whether on one's own or formally; related
to the strength of curiosity but goes beyond it to describe the tendency to add systematically to
what one knows.
23: Self-Regulation
Regulating what one feels and does; being disciplined; controlling one's appetites and emotions.
24: Spirituality
Having coherent beliefs about the higher purpose and meaning of the universe; knowing where
one fits within the larger scheme; having beliefs about the meaning of life that shape conduct and
provide comfort.
©2018 VIA Institute on Character. All Rights Reserved.
