Quote by Abraham Lincoln
Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it the tree is the real thing.
![Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The](https://quotation.io/quotes/character-like-tree-reputation-like-shadow-211.jpg)
Summary
This quote by Abraham Lincoln suggests that character is an individual's intrinsic qualities, while reputation refers to what others perceive or think about that person. It compares character to a tree and reputation to its shadow, reflecting how the shadow is dependent on the tree's existence and attributes. Similarly, reputation is seen as a reflection or projection of one's character onto others. The quote emphasizes the significance of one's true essence (the tree) compared to the opinion or image constructed by others (the shadow).