The river’s reputation ends where the sea begins.
—Russian Proverb
Concealed talent brings no reputation.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar
The worst thing that can happen to a man is to lose his money, the next worst his health, the next worst his reputation.
—Samuel Butler
A reputation for good judgment, fair dealing, truth, and rectitude, is itself a fortune.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Reputation is only a candle, of wavering and uncertain flame, and easily blown out, but it is the light by which the world looks for and finds merit.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
I rather like my reputation, actually, that of a spoiled genius from the Welsh gutter, a drunk, a womanizer; it’s rather an attractive image.
—Richard Burton (1925–84) Welsh Actor
A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well.
—Jeff Bezos (b.1964) American Entrepreneur, Investor
The easiest way to get a reputation is to go outside the fold, shout around for a few years as a violent atheist or a dangerous radical, and then crawl back to the shelter.
—Unknown
I am better than my reputation.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Good will, like a good name, is got by many actions, and lost by one.
—Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey (1773–1850) Scottish Judge, Literary Critic
How difficult it is to save the bark of reputation from the rocks of ignorance.
—Petrarch (1304–74) Italian Scholar, Poet, Humanist
I’d like people to think of me as someone who cares about them.
—Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–97) English Royal, Humanitarian, Peace Activist
Repetition makes reputation and reputation makes customers.
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973) Irish Novelist, Short-story Writer
When a door opens not to your knock, consider your reputation.
—Arabic Proverb
It ain’t often that a man’s reputation outlasts his money.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
A good reputation is more valuable than money.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
The two most precious things this side the grave are our reputation and our life. But it is to be lamented that the most contemptible whisper may deprive us of the one, and the weakest weapon of the other. A wise man, therefore, will be more anxious to deserve a fair name than to possess it, and this will teach him so to live, as not to be afraid to die.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
It is easier for a woman to defend her virtue against men than her reputation against women.
—Unknown
One can survive everything nowadays, except death, and live down anything except a good reputation.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
When ten thousand soldiers lie rotting, the general’s reputation is enhanced.
—Japanese Proverb
The two most precious things this side of the grave are our reputation and our life. But it is to be lamented that the most contemptible whisper may deprive us of the one, and the weakest weapon of the other.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself.
—Dwight L. Moody (1837–99) Christian Religious Leader, Publisher
Reputation is in itself only a farthing-candle, of wavering and uncertain flame, and easily blown out, but it is the light by which the world looks for and finds merit.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
Nobody raises his own reputation by lowering others
—Unknown
Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.
—Henry Kissinger (b.1923) American Diplomat, Academician
Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of—for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour.
—Japanese Proverb
Marriage is socialism among two people.
—Barbara Ehrenreich (b.1941) American Social Critic, Essayist
Build your reputation by helping other people build theirs.
—Anthony J. D’Angelo
Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
What people say behind your back is your standing in the community.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
Judge a man by the reputation of his enemies
—Arabic Proverb
Kindly words do not enter so deeply into men as a reputation for kindness.
—Mencius (c.371–c.289 BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
A good name is properly that reputation of virtue which every man may challenge as his right and due in the opinion of others, till he has made forfeit of it by the viciousness of his actions.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
The average person’s ear weighs what you are, not what you were.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
Work is the price which is paid for reputation.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
It is generally much more shameful to lose a good reputation than never to have acquired it.
—Pliny the Elder (23–79CE) Roman Statesman, Scholar
Who swerves from innocence, who makes divorce of that serene companion, a good name, recovers not his loss; but walks with shame, with doubt, with fear, and haply with remorse.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
It is easier to cope with a bad conscience than with a bad reputation.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
See that your character is right, and in the long run your reputation will be right.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
In all the affairs of this world, so much reputation is, in reality, so much power.
—John Tillotson
The purest treasure mortal times afford is spotless reputation; that away, men are but gilded loam or painted clay.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
How many people live on the reputation of the reputation they might have made!
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
Not much more can happen to you after you lose your reputation and your wife.
—John Michell (1933–2009) English Esotericist, New Age Writer
Some men’s reputation seems like seed-wheat, which thrives best when brought from a distance.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
Reputation is like fine china once broken it’s very hard to repair.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
How many worthy men have we seen survive their own reputations!
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Time goes by, reputation increases, ability declines.
—Dag Hammarskjold (1905–61) Swedish Statesman, UN Diplomat
It takes 20 years to build a reputation and 5 minutes to ruin it. If you think about that you will do things differently.
—Warren Buffett (b.1930) American Investor