Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Quotes

Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.

A woman's character is as delicate as her eye; it can bear no flaw.

I thank God that I left office the same way I came in: with integrity.

If anybody ever dares to compare Bob Dole to Clinton, then they're comparing a criminal to an honest man.

Ability without honor is useless.

Life every man holds dear; but the dear man holds honor far more precious dear than life.

There is a lust in man no charm can tame: Of loudly publishing his neighbor's shame: On eagles wings immortal scandals fly, while virtuous actions are born and die.

When all is said and done the only thing you'll have left is your character.

I'm a firm believer that character is highly overrated. Character is a trick that we do with the audience's collusion.

It is the public scandal that offends; to sin in secret is no sin at all.

No amount of ability is of the slightest avail without honor.

Money takes wings. The only thing that endures is character.

Show me the man you honor, and I will know what kind of man you are.

Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.

I've dodged bullets but there's no scandal in my life.

Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, and riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character.

Virtue itself scapes not calumnious strokes.

Fellows who have rascally faces have only one course to take, and that is to remain honest; otherwise, they would be arrested off-hand.

Better deserve honor and not have it, than have it and not deserve it.

A private sin is not so prejudicial in the world as public indecency.

Sir, the gentleman soils the spot he stands on.

A great party is not to be brought down because of a scandal by a woman of easy virtue ...

The reputation of a woman is like glass; once cracked, it cannot be repaired.

To be without silver is better than to be without honor.

In public life as in private life, a man of the very highest repute will occasionally go wrong..