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
Cautious, careful people always casting about to preserve their reputation or social standards never can bring about reform. Those who are really in earnest are willing to be anything or nothing in the world’s estimation, and publicly and privately, in season and out, avow their sympathies with despised ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences.
—Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906) American Civil Rights Leader
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
If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself.
—Dwight L. Moody (1837–99) Christian Religious Leader, Publisher
You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
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
A good reputation is more valuable than money.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
The great difficulty is first to win a reputation; the next to keep it while you live; and the next to preserve it after you die, when affection and interest are over, and nothing but sterling excellence can preserve your name. Never suffer youth to be an excuse for inadequacy, nor age and fame to be an excuse for indolence.
—Benjamin Haydon (1786–1846) English Painter, Writer
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
The average person’s ear weighs what you are, not what you were.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
Reputations, like beavers and cloaks, shall last some people twice the time of others.
—Douglas William Jerrold (1803–57) English Writer, Dramatist, Wit
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
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
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
What people say behind your back is your standing in the community.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
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
The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
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
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
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
Concealed talent brings no reputation.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar
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
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
It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.
—Warren Buffett (b.1930) American Investor
Better to die than to live on with a bad reputation.
—Vietnamese Proverb
How many people live on the reputation of the reputation they might have made!
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour.
—Japanese Proverb
Ninety percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad reputation.
—Henry Kissinger (b.1923) American Diplomat, Academician
Character is made by what you stand for; reputation by what you fall for.
—Robert Quillen (1887–1948) American Journalist, Humorist
Marriage is socialism among two people.
—Barbara Ehrenreich (b.1941) American Social Critic, Essayist
A single lie destroys a whole reputation of integrity.
—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 (23–79) Roman Statesman, Scholar
You have three names: the one you inherited, the one your parents gave you, and the one you make for yourself.
—Sanhedrin Supreme Council in Ancient Israel
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
Along with success comes a reputation for wisdom.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist