Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is read more

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

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 rarely proportioned to virtue.

Reputation is rarely proportioned to virtue.

And reputation bleeds in ev'ry word.

And reputation bleeds in ev'ry word.

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation read more

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

I consider him of no account who esteems himself just as the
popular breath may chance to raise him.
read more

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.]

It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it

It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it

Good will, like a good name, is got by many actions, and lost by one.

Good will, like a good name, is got by many actions, and lost by one.

Thy deathbed is no lesser than thy land,
Wherein thou liest in reputation sick;
And thou, too read more

Thy deathbed is no lesser than thy land,
Wherein thou liest in reputation sick;
And thou, too careless patient as thou art,
Committ'st thy anointed body to the cure
Of those physicians that first wounded thee.