Glass, china, and reputation are easily cracked, and never mended well.

Glass, china, and reputation are easily cracked, and never mended well.

I consider him of no account who esteems himself just as the
popular breath may chance to raise him.
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I consider him of no account who esteems himself just as the
popular breath may chance to raise him.
[Ger., Ich halte nichts von dem, der von sich denkt
Wie ihn das Volk vielleicht erheben mochte.]

Should envious tongues some malice frame; to soil and tarnish your good name; Live it Down!

Should envious tongues some malice frame; to soil and tarnish your good name; Live it Down!

It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll read more

It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.

It is a maxim to me that no man was ever written out of
reputation but by himself.

It is a maxim to me that no man was ever written out of
reputation but by himself.

No book was ever written down by any but itself.

No book was ever written down by any but itself.

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.

Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without
merit and lost without deserving.

Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without
merit and lost without deserving.

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