Curiosity, self control, grit and zest— they’re all character strengths. But what is character? And how do we cultivate it?

While many of us believe we’re born with character, science shows these strengths can be taught—and that it’s never too late to learn.

Angela Duckworth is the CEO and Founder of Character Lab, the Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and a 2013 MacArthur Fellow. Her first book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, is a #1 New York Times bestseller.