Even so, you are a better person for the stretch. For example, you may have an ideal of seeking perfect love. Though you will never reach it, you are a better person for having tried. Along with this ideal, you may have a principle or two about honesty and fidelity. Against this backdrop, character is the consistency and the frequency with which you apply or adhere to your principles.
Many people claim the principles of honesty and fidelity.
But if a person only applies or adheres to those principles when it is easy or convenient, they lack character. No matter how lofty their ideals nor how honorable their principles, if they only apply and adhere to them when it serves their self-interest, they lack character. Vise versa, obviously. The lessons are also about character. This is the mark and measure.