Recent research has claimed that character strengths can be over, under, and optimally used. While over use is seen to be caused by a “too much” of character strengths, and under use is viewed as not bringing forth enough strength capacities, optimal use is considered as the golden mean of character strengths. In the present study, we investigated whether the claimed connections of under, optimal, and over use with the degree of character strengths are valid. Due to the fact that character strengths are morally valued traits, which are positively correlated with life satisfaction, we hypothesize that a high degree of character strengths goes along with optimal use, while a low degree of character strengths goes along with under use. Furthermore, we think that over use will be positively related to the dark triad. In a correlation study we investigated 146 participants (58.2% female, 41.8% male) aged 19 – 68 (M= 34.60, SD= 13.28). Results of the study showed that optimal use is positively related to character strengths, and negatively related to the dark triad. Under use is negatively related to character strengths, and positively related to psychopathy. Over use showed positive correlations with the dark triad traits. We conclude that high character strengths allow for optimal use while dark triad traits impair it. Low expressions of character strengths go along with under use, and over use is motivated by high expressions of the dark triad. Therefore, we suggest that training character strengths with the goal to achieve higher expressions in character strengths could facilitate optimal use, which is linked to life satisfaction and flourishing.