Quote by Benjamin Haydon
The great difficulty is first to win a reputation; the next to keep it while you live; and the next to preserve it after you die, when affection and interest are over, and nothing but sterling excellence can preserve your name. Never suffer youth to be an excuse for inadequacy, nor age and fame to be an excuse for indolence.
Summary
This quote emphasizes the challenges and responsibilities of maintaining a positive reputation throughout one's life. It asserts that the initial step is to gain a good reputation, but the true difficulty lies in upholding it. Even after death, when personal connections and vested interests no longer exist, only genuine excellence can ensure the preservation of one's name. The quote also cautions against making youth an excuse for incompetence and discourages using age and prior accomplishments as a justification for laziness. It promotes the idea that reputation is built and sustained through continuous dedication and hard work.
Topics
Reputation
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