Identity vs. character

From the Chronicle of Higher Education: "If identity captures something about the relatively polished social persona we present to the world, then character captures something about the wholly idiosyncratic … energies that, every so often, break the facade. Our character leaps forth whenever we do something 'crazy,' such as suddenly dissolving a committed relationship. … At such moments, what is fierce and unapologetic about us undermines our attempts to lead a 'reasonable' life, causing us to follow an inner directive that may be as enigmatic as it is compelling."