We like to think that our beliefs — political, religious, philosophical or moral — say a good deal about who we are. They say something. But they do not guarantee much.
Two people can defend almost the same ideas and behave in completely different ways. The opposite can also happen: people with very different convictions can show the same honesty, generosity or sense of justice when the moment to act arrives.
Aristotle gave habit a central role in the formation of character: we gradually make ourselves through repeated practice. The well-known phrase “we are what we repeatedly do” is not a literal quotation of his but a modern paraphrase, though it captures that intuition fairly well.
That is why values matter less as a declaration than as a practice. Saying we value respect is of little use if it disappears the moment someone contradicts us. Defending justice does not make us just if we apply one measure to our own side and another to everyone else. Talking about care cares for no one.
Nor does a single bad action define a person forever. We can correct ourselves, learn and change our habits. That is precisely why it is worth looking at what we do: because that is where we can intervene.
You are not only what you believe. You are also what you practise when no one is applauding, when you are tired, when you are contradicted, or when doing the right thing is uncomfortable.
Ideas point the way. Habits end up giving them shape.