Outside his friendship with Hornblower, Bush is characterized as a stoic who endures the hardships and vagaries of naval life without complaint. Unlike Hornblower, he is untroubled by enforcing brutal naval discipline, believing that "contact with injustice in a world that was essentially unjust was part of everyone's education" and being entirely intolerant of cowardice and disloyalty, though he otherwise has a kind nature. Although he is not as imaginative as Hornblower (it is frequently noted in "Lieutenant Hornblower" that Bush's pattern of thinking is not as vivid or innovative) he is a highly competent and reliable seaman who finds enjoyment in naval routine.