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.

The reputation of a man is like his shadow, gigantic when it precedes him, and pigmy in its proportions when read more

The reputation of a man is like his shadow, gigantic when it precedes him, and pigmy in its proportions when it follows.

How many worthy men have we seen survive their own reputations!

How many worthy men have we seen survive their own reputations!

If you can't get rid of the skeleton in your closet, you'd best
teach it to dance.

If you can't get rid of the skeleton in your closet, you'd best
teach it to dance.

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.

Reputation is but a synonyme of popularity: dependent on
suffrage, to be increased or diminished at the will of read more

Reputation is but a synonyme of popularity: dependent on
suffrage, to be increased or diminished at the will of the
voters.

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.]

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.

A lost good name is ne'er retriev'd.

A lost good name is ne'er retriev'd.