This free four temperaments test shows whether you are sanguine, choleric, melancholic or phlegmatic. Rate 24 short statements; it takes about three minutes. You get your main and your second temperament, with the strengths, the weak side and advice for the spiritual life.
How the temperament test works
- 24 statements, six for each temperament, in mixed order.
- Five answers, from “No” to “Yes”. Think of how you have been since childhood, not of how you behave at work or on a good day.
- The result names your main temperament and your second one, and shows your score for all four.
- Nothing is saved or sent. There is no sign-up.
The four temperaments at a glance
The four temperaments are sorted by two simple questions: how fast do you react, and how long does the feeling stay?
| Temperament | Reacts | The feeling | Strengths | Weak side |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanguine | Quickly | Soon fades | Warm, cheerful, sociable | Changeable, talkative, leaves things unfinished |
| Choleric | Quickly | Lasts | Strong-willed, decisive, a leader | Proud, angry, hard on others |
| Melancholic | Slowly | Goes deep and lasts | Thoughtful, faithful, prayerful | Discouraged, brooding, never satisfied |
| Phlegmatic | Slowly | Soon fades | Calm, reliable, peaceable | Comfortable, slow to act, silent |
What each temperament means
Under each temperament are three pieces of advice for growing in it.
Sanguine
You react quickly, but the feeling does not last long. You are warm, cheerful and good with people. The weak side: you can be changeable, talk too much and leave things unfinished.
- Finish one thing before you start the next.
- Keep a fixed time of prayer every day, also when the feeling is not there.
- Practise silence and listening. Virtues to work on: perseverance and self-control.
Writers on the temperaments often name St. Peter as a sanguine saint.
Choleric
You react quickly, and the feeling lasts. You have a strong will, clear goals and the energy to lead. The weak side: pride, anger and hardness with people who are slower.
- Ask for advice, and listen to it.
- Practise patience and gentleness with those who cannot keep up.
- Put your drive at the service of others. Virtues to work on: humility and meekness.
Writers on the temperaments often name St. Paul as a choleric saint.
Melancholic
You react slowly, but the feeling goes deep and stays. You are thoughtful and faithful, drawn to prayer and to what is true and beautiful. The weak side: discouragement, brooding over hurts and waiting for the perfect moment.
- Act on a good decision without waiting for the perfect moment.
- Forgive quickly, and do not go back over old hurts.
- Look at the goodness of God more than at your own faults. Virtues to work on: hope and trust.
Writers on the temperaments often name St. John the Apostle as a melancholic saint.
Phlegmatic
You react slowly, and the feeling soon passes. You are calm and reliable, a peacemaker and a good listener. The weak side: taking the easy way, putting things off and keeping silent when you should speak.
- Set small, clear goals with a date.
- Speak up when something is wrong, even when silence is easier.
- Offer your help before you are asked. Virtues to work on: zeal and courage.
Writers on the temperaments often name St. Thomas Aquinas as a phlegmatic saint.
Blends of two temperaments
Few people are one temperament only. Most have a main one and a second one, and the test shows you both. Neighbours blend easily: sanguine with choleric, choleric with melancholic, melancholic with phlegmatic, phlegmatic with sanguine. Opposites such as sanguine and melancholic, or choleric and phlegmatic, are found together less often.
Temperament and the spiritual life
Where the idea comes from. The Greek physicians Hippocrates and Galen described four types of people and explained them by fluids in the body. The medicine is long out of date, but the four descriptions have stayed in use because people recognize themselves in them. Catholic spiritual writers have used them for centuries to help people know themselves.
Temperament is not character. Temperament is what you were born with. Character is what you make of it with effort and with the grace of God. There are saints of every temperament, and each became holy by building on the strengths of their nature and fighting its weak side.
How to use your result.
- Know the fault you fall into most easily, and name it in your examination of conscience.
- Choose one virtue to work on; the result suggests two.
- Be patient with people of another temperament. Your husband, wife, child or colleague may not be difficult, only different.
The test is a help for knowing yourself. It is not a medical or psychological assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have more than one temperament?
Yes. Most people are a blend of two, with one stronger than the other.
Can my temperament change?
The basic temperament stays. What changes is character: a choleric can become gentle and a phlegmatic can become brave, and that is the work of a lifetime.
Which temperament is the best?
None. Each has gifts the others lack, and each has its own way of going wrong.
Which saints had which temperament?
Writers often name St. Peter as sanguine, St. Paul as choleric, St. John as melancholic and St. Thomas Aquinas as phlegmatic. These are guesses from what we know of their lives, not teaching of the Church.
Is the four temperaments test free?
Yes. There is no account and no email, and the full result appears at once.