In the preface of How to Build Character, Swami Budhananda defines character as an indestructible foundation and a "divine light" that persists even when all else is lost. He argues that character is the primary mission of education, more vital than material wealth. Because character requires "perpetual tending" like breathing, the author emphasizes that personal integrity is the ultimate security. Ultimately, he posits that a nation’s strength and an individual's peace depend entirely on this moral base.