Build your reputation by helping other people build theirs.
—Anthony J. D’Angelo
Some men’s reputation seems like seed-wheat, which thrives best when brought from a distance.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
Of a dead leopard we keep the skin, of man his reputation.
—Chinese Proverb
Nobody raises his own reputation by lowering others
—Unknown
The soldiers’ blood, the general’s reputation.
—Jamaican Proverb
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
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
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
Charisma becomes the undoing of leaders. It makes them inflexible, convinced of their own infallibility, unable to change.
—Peter Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-born Management Consultant
Repetition makes reputation and reputation makes customers.
—Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973) Irish Novelist, Short-story Writer
There are two modes of establishing our reputation—to be praised by honest men, and to be abused by rogues. It is best, however, to secure the former, because it will invariably be accompanied by the latter.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Until you’ve lost your reputation, you never realize what a burden it was or what freedom really is.
—Margaret Mitchell (1900–49) American Novelist, Journalist
Kindly words do not enter so deeply into men as a reputation for kindness.
—Mencius (c.371–c.289 BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
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
I am better than my reputation.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
To disregard what the world thinks of us is not only arrogant but utterly shameless.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
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
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
Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit and lost without deserving.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
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
A good name is better than precious ointment.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Many a man’s reputation would not know his character if they met on the street.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Perhaps a man’s character was like a tree, and his reputation like its shadow; the shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Reputation is like fine china once broken it’s very hard to repair.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Character is made by what you stand for; reputation by what you fall for.
—Robert Quillen (1887–1948) American Journalist, Humorist
Reputation is rarely proportioned to virtue.—We have seen a thousand people esteemed, either for the merit they had not yet attained or for what they no longer possessed.
—Montesquieu (1689–1755) French Political Philosopher, Jurist
With enough courage, you can do without a reputation.
—Margaret Mitchell (1900–49) American Novelist, Journalist
Your women of honor, as you call em, are only chary of their reputations, not their persons; and ‘Tis scandal that they would avoid, not men.
—William Wycherley (c.1640–1716) English Dramatist
Concealed talent brings no reputation.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar