Michinaga was of large-hearted and pleasant character, and according to a story of his youth his father, Kaneie, envying FUJIWARA no Kinto, a talented son of Kanpaku Yoritada, said with a sigh of grief to his sons, 'my sons fall far short, they won't even be able to step on (Kinto's) shadow.'
道長は豪爽な性格で、若い頃の話として父・兼家が才人である関白頼忠の子の藤原公任を羨み、息子たちに「我が子たちは遠く及ばない、（公任の）影を踏むこともできまい」と嘆息した。