Six Pillars of Character

1. Trustworthiness: This pillar is the most complex of the six core ethical values and
concerns a variety of qualities like honesty, integrity, reliability and loyalty.

Honesty in communication includes truthfulness, sincerity and candor.

Honesty in conduct includes obeying the rules and refraining from cheating,
fraud, subterfuge and other trickery.
Integrity demands that a person is self-reflective, embraces ethical and moral
beliefs and acts according to belief in a consistent manner.
Reliability requires that we accept the responsibility of making all reasonable
efforts to fulfill our commitments.
Loyalty is a responsibility to promote the interests of certain people,
organizations of affiliations. This duty goes beyond the normal obligation we
all share to care for others.
Loyalty requires that we safeguard confidential information and avoid
conflicting interests.

2. Respect: This pillar requires that we treat all people with dignity. It prohibits
violence, humiliation, manipulation and exploitation. It reflects notions such as civility,
courtesy, decency, dignity, autonomy, tolerance and acceptance.

Civility, courtesy and decency require that others are treated with
consideration.
Dignity and autonomy require that all individuals need to make informed
decisions about their own lives.
Tolerance and acceptance require that the individual differences and beliefs be
accepted without prejudice. Others should be judged only on their character,
abilities and conduct.

3. Responsibility: This pillar requires that we are in charge of our choices and requires
that we are accountable, we pursue excellence and that we practice self-restraint.

Accountability requires that we consider the likely consequences of our

behavior, that we lead by example, and that we confront wrong-doing and evil
wherever it is present.
Pursuit of excellence has an ethical dimension when others rely upon our
knowledge, ability or willingness to perform tasks safely and effectively.
Pursuit of excellence requires diligence, perseverance and a willingness to
seek continuous self-improvement.
Self-restraint requires the exercise of self-control, restraint of passions and
appetites for the sake of longer-term vision and better judgment. This
frequently requires the delay of gratification.

4. Fairness: This pillar requires adherence to a balanced standard of justice without

relevance to one's own feelings or inclinations.

Process is crucial in settling disputes, both to reach the fairest results and to
minimize complaints. A fair person scrupulously employs open and impartial
processes for gathering and evaluating information necessary to make
decisions.
Impartiality requires that decisions be made without favoritism or prejudice.
Equity requires that an individual a group or a society should correct mistakes
promptly and voluntarily. It is improper to take advantage of the weakness or
ignorance of others.

5. Caring: This pillar is the heart of ethics and it ethical decision-making.

The highest form of caring is to respond to the pain, pleasure and needs of
others.
"There is no bond but the bond of love which is the bond of perfection". (St.
Francis de Sales)

6. Citizenship: This pillar includes civic virtues and duties that prescribe how we ought
to behave as part of a community.

Good citizens know the laws, obeys them and stays informed on this issues of
the day
Good citizens give more to groups and society than they take.