Character Traits
Tolerance
When tolerance of points of view comes from a heart that is pure and cleansed of all evil, that tolerance is not liable to chill the flame of holy feelings containing simple faith—which is the source of all life. Instead, that tolerance broadens and magnifies the foundation of heaven-directed fervor.
Tolerance is armed with a very great faith. Ultimately, it realizes the complete impossibility of a soul being emptied of all holy life. This is because the life of the living God fills all life. And so, even where actions come out in a destructive fashion, where points of view collide into heresy, there still must be—in the midst of the heart, in the depth of the soul—the living light of hidden holiness. And this is apparent in the good aspects that we find in many corners, even on those ravaged avenues touched by heresy and corroded by doubts.
From the midst of this great, holy knowledge and faith comes tolerance, which encircles everything with a thread of kindness.
“I will gather up all of you, Yaacov” (Michah 2).
Midot Harayah, p. 84
Modesty
The trait of modesty brings about many important aspects of goodness in the world. Because it is so worthwhile, it sets aside other things, even though they are intrinsically good. A person’s drive and weak self-control could destroy the trait of modesty, which maintains the world, both spiritual and physical.
Love and friendship, with all their pleasant characteristics and words, should really have been equal between man and woman.
But the great worth of modesty takes precedence. And so politeness is set aside—even to the point that a man should not inquire of another how his wife is doing (Kiddushin 70a).
A modest person realizes that it is not disparagement of women that leads to this distance and these boundaries. It is rather the focus on the ultimate, worthy goal.
We see something similar in our exposure to ideas. We maintain a fitting distance, with an almost instinctual sense, from ideas that would damage our sense of ethics. It might at times appear that we are rejecting freedom of thought. But when we are aware of our goal, we will recognize the great worth of our self-limitation and accept it lovingly.
Midot Harayah, p. 90