“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 unfavorable 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.”
Quote by William Hazlitt
Work
Characteristics: in the manner of Rochefoucault's Maxims [by W. Hazlitt].
This book is a compilation of concise, thought-provoking statements that delve into various aspects of human nature, ethics, and social behavior, reflecting the author's engagement with the works of Rochefoucault. more
Author
William Hazlitt
William Hazlitt, born on April 10, 1778, was an influential English essayist and literary critic. His works are renowned for their sharp observations and profound insights, which have had a lasting impact on 19th-century British literature. more
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“In all the affairs of this world, so much reputation is in reality so much power.”
“Not much more can happen to you after you lose your reputation and your wife.”
“The enemies of the Christian religion and the Law of God confuse law with faith.”
“No man can have society upon his own terms.”
Source: The Journals and Miscellaneous Notebooks of Ralph Waldo Emerson