“It is difficult to make a reputation, but is even more difficult seriously to mar a reputation once properly made --- so faithful is the public.”
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Quote Analysis: Arnold Bennett on Reputation
Arnold Bennett's quote reflects on the nature of reputation and public perception. He acknowledges the challenge involved in building a good reputation, emphasizing that it requires significant effort and consistency. However, Bennett then offers an optimistic perspective: once a reputation is firmly established, it becomes surprisingly resilient, as the public tends to remain loyal or faithful to that image.
This sheds light on the human tendency to trust and uphold familiar impressions rather than quickly abandoning them. It also hints at the inertia within social judgments—people are more likely to give the benefit of the doubt to those with established reputations rather than abruptly tarnishing them. In essence, Bennett suggests that reputation, once earned, acts as a form of social capital that affords protection against minor slips or criticisms.
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