الامام علی علیه السلام: ذَلِّلوا أخلاقَكُم بِالمَحاسِنِ، و قَوِّدوها إلَى المَكارِمِ ، و عَوِّدوا أنفُسَكُمُ الحِلمَ

Imam Ali (as): Subdue your character with virtues, lead it towards goodness, and make your soul accustomed to patience.(Tuhaf al-’Uqül, p.224.)
Exposition:
tadhlīl means subduing. Naturally, there are conflicts and incompatibilities in human’s character. He has to dissolve them, leading his character towards an equilibrium. For instance, he must lead his valiance towards courage and bravery, not letting it to turn into audacity. This must be done by identifying one’s traits as well as planning and practicing. Transient and impermanent decisions are ineffective and fruitless.
There is, however, a factor that may ignite a surprising revolution inside a person, and that is the elixir of loving God. If one’s heart turns towards God Almighty, he will cover the path of a hundred years journey in one night.
Next, Imam orders us to accustom our souls to patience.
Patience does not just mean ‘not getting angry’. Rather, it means expanding one’s capacity. One must be like a sea wherein roaring waves of rivers calm down. He must be so when faced with factors leading to his anger, pride, or meaningless delight.

There are all features of good character through which we can attract people towards goodnese as the Prophet (S) says: Verily, you can never benefr [all] people with your properties; so, benefit them with your [good] character.
This means that you do not have the means to keep all people in the sphere of your affection and relation . You cannot do this with your properties, but you enjoy an instrument with which you may attract the hearts of all people or most of them. What is that? It is [good] character.
If you are humble, truthful, if do not destroy this one or that one, if you keep your words – these are all characteristics that people like – then you may attract people’s hearts with these good traits and praiseworthy characteristics.

Book: Hadith Of Life, Published by: Tahseen