Quote by Abraham Lincoln
If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. You may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all the time; but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.
Summary
This quote emphasizes the importance of trust and credibility in the eyes of one's fellow citizens. It suggests that once someone loses the confidence of others, it becomes extremely difficult, if not impossible, to regain their respect and admiration. While it may be possible to deceive some individuals temporarily, it is unreasonable to expect to successfully deceive everyone consistently. Thus, maintaining the trust of the people is crucial for earning long-lasting respect and esteem.