My dear dear lord,
The purest treasure mortal times afford
Is spotless reputation. That away,
read more

My dear dear lord,
The purest treasure mortal times afford
Is spotless reputation. That away,
Man are but gilded loam or painted clay.

One can survive everything, nowadays, except death, and live down everything except a good reputation.

One can survive everything, nowadays, except death, and live down everything except a good reputation.

Better to die than to live on with a bad reputation.

Better to die than to live on with a bad reputation.

In various talk th' instructive hours they past,
Who gave the ball, or paid the visit last;
read more

In various talk th' instructive hours they past,
Who gave the ball, or paid the visit last;
One speaks the glory of the British queen,
And one describes a charming Indian screen;
A third interprets motions, looks, and eyes;
At every word a reputation dies.

I wrote the story myself. It's about a girl who lost her reputation and never missed it.

I wrote the story myself. It's about a girl who lost her reputation and never missed it.

And reputation bleeds in ev'ry word.

And reputation bleeds in ev'ry word.

When a door opens not to your knock, consider your reputation.

When a door opens not to your knock, consider your reputation.

A man's reputation is what other people think of him; his character is what he really is.

A man's reputation is what other people think of him; his character is what he really is.

The worst of me is known, and I can say that I am better than the
reputation I bear.
read more

The worst of me is known, and I can say that I am better than the
reputation I bear.
[Ger., Das Aergste weiss die Welt von mir, und ich
Kann sagen, ich bin besser als mein Ruf.]