The Bible give us a list of human stories on both sides of the ledger. On list of human stories is used examples—do what these people did. Another list of human stories is used as warnings—don’t do what these people did. So if your story ever gets in one of these books, make sure they use it as an example, not a warning.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
No man can understand why a woman shouldn’t prefer a good reputation to a good time.
—Helen Rowland (1875–1950) American Journalist, Humorist
A good reputation is more valuable than money.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
The reputation of a man is like his shadow; it sometimes follows and sometimes precedes him, it is sometimes longer and sometimes shorter than his natural size.
—French Proverb
One way to evaluate your own reputation is to think about what would be said of you at your eulogy.
—Brian Koslow
My reputation grows with every failure.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
He that has the name to be an early riser may sleep till noon.
—James Howell (c.1593–1666) Anglo-Welsh Writer, Historian
When a man has once forfeited the reputation of his integrity, he is set fast; nothing will then serve his turn, neither truth nor falsehood.
—John Tillotson
Kindly words do not enter so deeply into men as a reputation for kindness.
—Mencius (c.371–c.289 BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Few people think more than two or three times a year. I’ve made an international reputation for myself by thinking once or twice a week.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
O! reputation, dearer far than life, thou precious balsam, lovely, sweet of smell, whose cordial drops once spilt by some rash hand, not all thy owner’s care, nor the repenting toil of the rude spiller, ever can collect to its first purity and native sweetness.
—Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) English Courtier, Navigator, Poet
A man’s reputation is not in his own keeping, but lies at the mercy of the profligacy of others. Calumny requires no proof. The throwing out of malicious imputations against any character leaves a stain, which no after-refutation can wipe out. To create an unfavourable impression, it is not necessary that certain things should be true, but that they have been said. The imagination is of so delicate a texture that even words wound it.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
A single lie destroys a whole reputation of integrity.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.
—Nelson Mandela (1918–2013) South African Political leader
Judge a man by the reputation of his enemies
—Arabic Proverb
The river’s reputation ends where the sea begins.
—Russian Proverb
To disregard what the world thinks of us is not only arrogant but utterly shameless.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.
—Henry Kissinger (1923–2023) American Diplomat, Academician
He that tears away a man’s good name tears his flesh from his bones, and by letting him live gives him only a cruel opportunity of feeling his misery, of burying his better part and surviving himself.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
Repetition makes reputation and reputation makes customers.
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973) Irish Novelist, Short-story Writer
Whoever renders service to many puts himself in line for greatness—great wealth, great return, great satisfaction, great reputation, and great joy.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit and lost without deserving.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
When ten thousand soldiers lie rotting, the general’s reputation is enhanced.
—Japanese Proverb
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
For God’s sake (I never was more serious) don’t make me ridiculous any more by terming me gentle-hearted in print… substitute drunken dog, ragged head, seld-shaven, odd-eyed, stuttering, or any other epithet which truly and properly belongs to the gentleman in question.
—Charles Lamb (1775–1834) British Essayist, Poet
If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself.
—Dwight L. Moody (1837–99) Christian Religious Leader, Publisher
A remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that he is really very good in spite of all the people who say he is very good.
—Robert Ranke Graves (1895–1985) English Poet, Novelist, Critic, Classical 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
Work is the price which is paid for reputation.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Leave a Reply