Reputation Vs. Character

Do you care more about your reputation or character?

I think reputation and character are sometimes confused.

Reputation refers to someone having an opinion of others. He has a reputation of being a ladies man...or she has the reputation of being a bad mother...that is an opinion. What others 'think' of another person. Gossiping can lead to the reputation of others in a positive or negative way.

Character is a combination of morals and other traits that one actually has. These traits make a person who he is. When having good character you may have more self esteem and self-respect. Knowing to be honorable, honest, compassionate and ethical.

Positive or Good Traits vs. Negative or Bad traits
Courageous ~ Cowardly
Conscientious ~ Careless
Determined ~ Easily discouraged
Confident ~ Unsure
Hard working ~ Lazy
Kind ~ Cruel
Reliable ~ Unreliable
Fair ~ Biased
Considerate ~ Inconsiderate
Your actions and how you interact with others will determine your reputation. Your reputation can be of course, good or bad. People may view what they know of your reputation before they actually know of your character.

Character has to do with how we actually live day after day or how we handle situations in life and treat people.

Personally, I do care what people think of me, but I care more about my character and developing into being a good person on a daily basis.

Some Quotes to Ponder:
Reputation is what man says about you but Character is what God knows about you.

Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught.

Character is like a tree and reputation its shadow. The shadow is what we think it is; the tree is the real thing...Abraham Lincoln

Reputation is but a synonym of popularity: dependent on suffrage, to be increased or diminished at the will of the voters...Washington Allston

Associate with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company...George Washington

Reputation is what you need to get a job; character is what you need to keep it.

Reputation is seeming; character is being.

Character is made by what you stand for; reputation by what you fall for... Robert Quillen

Character is the foundation stone upon which one must build to win respect. Just as no worthy building can be erected on a weak foundation, so no lasting reputation worthy of respect can be built on a weak character. ..R.C. Samsel