The circumstances amid which you live determine your reputation;
The truth you believe determines your character.
Reputation comes over one from without;
Character grows from within.
Reputation is what you have when you come into a new community;
Character is what you have when you go away.
Your reputation is learned in an hour;
Your character does not come to light for a year.
Reputation is made in a moment;
Character is built in a lifetime.
Reputation grows like a mushroom;
Character grows like an oak.
A single newspaper report gives you your reputation;
A life of toil gives you your character.
Reputation makes you rich or makes you poor;
Character makes you happy or makes you miserable.
Reputation is what men say about you on your tombstone;
Character is what angels say about you before the throne of God.
~Author unknown
I found this quote while reading through a book on Esther by Elizabeth George. The book is called 'Becoming a Woman of Beauty and Strength'. Now, Esther probably had a good reputation during her day. After all, she was the queen of a powerful empire, and jaw-drop'n gorgeous to boot. Yet it is not these qualities that we, several thousand years later, remember her by. When you think of Esther, what things immediately pop into your mind? Obedience? Courage? Strength? Do these virtues arise from reputation or from true, godly character?
Elbert Hubbard once wisely stated, "Many a man's reputation would not know his character if they met in the street."
Do you think that this is a true statement? Leave us a comment and let me know!
posted by Lydia
This is so true. It is very easy for someone to act in a manner that earns them a good reputation, but have bad character. While this is disturbing I almost find it more disturbing how someone of good character, who stands up for what is right, will sometimes be mocked for it. I think it is important to first strive to have good character, and then strive for a good reputation, but we must never sacrifice the first for the second, no matter how tempting it might be.
ReplyDeleteYour true character is what is seen when you are falsely accused and your good reputation is taken away. It would be so easy to throw up your hands and say, "What's the use." But it's that steady character that keeps persevering time and time again that restores the good repution that was unjustly taken away.
ReplyDeleteI had a Christian college professor who once said, "You're not ready to live until you know what is going to be written on your tombstone." I think this is a nice sentiment, but look at what so many have written... tycoon, played for NY Yankees, or did great things in the Christian arena. No, this poem reminds me that it's only in heaven where the character of the heart reveals such things as "pray warrior," "faithful parent," "loved the unloveble," "did what was right even when those around her were tempting her to do otherwise." The world does not applaude you for those things but heaven will some day.