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.]

Reputation is rarely proportioned to virtue.

Reputation is rarely proportioned to virtue.

Many a man's reputation would not know his character if they met
on the street.

Many a man's reputation would not know his character if they met
on the street.

Don't consider your reputation and you may do anything you like

Don't consider your reputation and you may do anything you like

Reputation is but a synonyme of popularity: dependent on
suffrage, to be increased or diminished at the will of read more

Reputation is but a synonyme of popularity: dependent on
suffrage, to be increased or diminished at the will of the
voters.

To disregard what the world thinks of us is not only arrogant but
utterly shameless.
[Lat., Negligere quid read more

To disregard what the world thinks of us is not only arrogant but
utterly shameless.
[Lat., Negligere quid de se quisque sentiat, non solum arrogantis
est, sed etiam omnino dissoluti.]

Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.

Charm strikes the sight, but merit wins the soul.

The reputation of a man is like his shadow, gigantic when it precedes him, and pigmy in its proportions when read more

The reputation of a man is like his shadow, gigantic when it precedes him, and pigmy in its proportions when it follows.

Surely, sir,
There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends;
For, being not propped by read more

Surely, sir,
There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends;
For, being not propped by ancestry, whose grace
Chalks successors their way, nor called upon
For high feats done to th' crown, neither allied
To eminent assistants, but spiderlike
Out of his self-drawing web, 'a gives us note,
The force of his own merit makes his way,
A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
A place next to the king.