On Reputation

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”

“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.”

“I am not concerned that I have no place, I am concerned how I may fit myself for one. I am not concerned that I am not known, I seek to be worthy to be known.”

“The mind of the superior man is conversant with righteousness; the mind of the mean man is conversant with gain.”

“Sheep do not vomit up their grass and show to the shepherds how much they have eaten; but when they have internally digested the pasture, they produce externally wool and milk.”

“This is your duty, to act well the part that is given to you; but to select the part belongs to another.”

“He who stands on his tiptoes does not stand firm. He who displays himself does not shine; he who vaunts himself does not find his merit acknowledged.”

“The reward of a thing well done, is to have done it.”

“I learned to love labour, not alone for its financial value, but for labour's own sake and for the independence which the ability to do something the world wants done brings.”

Looking back, people who had reached the top of technical trades said their standing came from how they treated colleagues, not from being the cleverest in the room.