Yet some people wonder if our inner values matter anymore. After all, hasn't our noted bank executive succeeded in every visible way, despite his transgressions (过错,犯罪)？
This question demonstrates a quandary (因境) of our modern life. Many have come to believe that the only things we need for success are talent, energy and personality. But history has taught us that over the long haul, who we are is more important than who we appear to be.
During the nation's first century and a half, almost everything in the literature of success and self-help focused on what could be called the character ethic. Such eminent figures as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson made clear their belief that we can only experience tree success and happiness by making character the base of our lives.
After we moved into the industrial age and after World WarⅠ, the basic view of success shifted to what we could call the personality ethic. Success became more a function of charm, skills and techniques that, at least on the surface, lubricate (使润滑) the process of human interaction. Rather than struggle with thorny issues of right and wrong, we turned to making things run smoothly.
Some of that philosophy expressed itself with harmless but superficial maxims such as "Smiling wins more friends than frowning." Other ideas were clearly manipulative or even deceptive-faking interest in others' hobbies so they will like you, for instance.
With a value system based solely on skill and personality, we find heroes in athletes, musicians and in powerful business executives. But despite the admiration we feel for these achievers, we shouldn't necessarily look upon them as role models. While skill is certainly needed for success, it can never guarantee happiness and fulfillment. These come from developing character.
According to the passage, character is______.

A. your integrity
B. your personality
C. a guide in your life
D. your sense of good