--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It takes many good deeds to build a good…" description: "\"It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/benjamin-franklin-65_good-deeds_it-takes-many-good-deeds-to-build-a-good_2018195.png" --- # It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and… ![“It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/benjamin-franklin-65_good-deeds_it-takes-many-good-deeds-to-build-a-good_2018195.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/benjamin-franklin-65_good-deeds_it-takes-many-good-deeds-to-build-a-good_2018195.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/benjamin-franklin-65_good-deeds_it-takes-many-good-deeds-to-build-a-good_2018195.png) > “It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reputation is built by many good actions but can be destroyed by a single misdeed. **In simple terms:** Good deeds build reputation; one bad deed can ruin it. Key Takeaway Guard your actions carefully. Themes reputation integrity consequences trust Mood cautious serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - business dealings - public service - online presence - personal branding Key Concepts ethics social dynamics risk management Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to protect your reputation? - Can a single mistake be redeemed? A Different Perspective People may forgive many faults but remember the worst. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Build Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build-good-523332/) [Good deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-deeds/) [Good reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-reputation/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Reputation Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation-bad-2332055/) [Takes Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/takes-good-479411/) ## Related quotes > [Any opening is good enough, if its reputation is bad enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savielly-tartakower/any-opening-is-good-enough-if-its-reputation-is-bad-enough/) [Savielly Tartakower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savielly-tartakower/) > [“I don't know how to make friends and influence people, I fuck around too much, my reputation's bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/i-don-t-know-how-to-make-friends-and-influence-people-i-fuck-around/) [Louis-Ferdinand Celine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [A good name is better than precious ointment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/a-good-name-is-better-than-precious-ointment/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of - for credit is like fire; when once you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/regard-your-good-name-as-the-richest-jewel-you-can-possibly-be/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [It only takes one lie to taint your entire testimony in a court of law. Honesty is a vital part of having a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/it-only-takes-one-lie-to-taint-your-entire-testimony-in-a-court-of/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Your brand name is only as good as your reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/your-brand-name-is-only-as-good-as-your-reputation/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“If one has a good reputation and trusted, the rules can be bent to accommodate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-shreve/if-one-has-a-good-reputation-and-trusted-the-rules-can-be-bent-to/) [Anita Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-shreve/) > [I was never desperate to make a comeback. But winning 'Bigg Boss' assured faith in me that I have a good reputation in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-roy/i-was-never-desperate-to-make-a-comeback-but-winning-bigg-boss/) [Rahul Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-roy/) > [I feel like thanking Paul Dacre every time, because the reason they ask me is because they think I've come through the other end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-campbell/i-feel-like-thanking-paul-dacre-every-time-because-the-reason-they/) [Alastair Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-campbell/) > [Of course, you have to have a good reputation, especially as an artist, as a musician, so that other musicians would like to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/airto-moreira/of-course-you-have-to-have-a-good-reputation-especially-as-an-artist/) [Airto Moreira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/airto-moreira/) > [I consider a good reputation is a great part of the human happiness. Some people, if they are very, very rich can permit themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle-onassis/i-consider-a-good-reputation-is-a-great-part-of-the-human-happiness/) [Aristotle Onassis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle-onassis/) > [Never gaining a good reputation is not nearly as painful as losing one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-burr/never-gaining-a-good-reputation-is-not-nearly-as-painful-as-losing-one/) [Raymond Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-burr/) > [The Constitution gives you the right to a lawyer, but it doesn't allow you the right to a good reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dezenhall/the-constitution-gives-you-the-right-to-a-lawyer-but-it-doesn-t-allow/) [Eric Dezenhall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dezenhall/) > [What is a good man? Simply one whose life is useful to the world. And a bad man is simply one whose life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-zhao/what-is-a-good-man-simply-one-whose-life-is-useful-to-the-world-and-a/) [Zhang Zhao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-zhao/) > [“Because things accumulate around your name," said Berenice. "You have a name and one thing after another happens to you, and you behave in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/because-things-accumulate-around-your-name-said-berenice-you-have-a/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More Good deeds quotes > [“What if I believed that God Himself was the One who decreed I would be a quiet person? What if I believed that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-rajnus/what-if-i-believed-that-god-himself-was-the-one-who-decreed-i-would/) [Julie Rajnus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-rajnus/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/time-which-wears-down-and-diminishes-all-things-augments-and/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Our Soul is a spark of the Divine. It is pure and perfect. Evil deeds merely obstruct our vision of the true nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/our-soul-is-a-spark-of-the-divine-it-is-pure-and-perfect-evil-deeds/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The church is never a place to show off. Do your good deeds quietly. Serve; don't seek to be seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/the-church-is-never-a-place-to-show-off-do-your-good-deeds-quietly/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“What is the present if not the graveyard of the past where, for each of our deeds we dig a grave. Everything we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mladen-or-evi/what-is-the-present-if-not-the-graveyard-of-the-past-where-for-each/) [Mladen Đorđević](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mladen-or-evi/) > [One mistake can wash out your thousands of good deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-demdam/one-mistake-can-wash-out-your-thousands-of-good-deeds/) [Catherine Demdam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-demdam/) > [We are not to preach the doing of good things; good deeds are not to be preached, they are to be performed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-not-to-preach-the-doing-of-good-things-good-deeds-are-not-to/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Every time you do a good deed you shine the light a little farther into the dark. And the thing is, when you're gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/every-time-you-do-a-good-deed-you-shine-the-light-a-little-farther/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [I learned to read from Mrs. Augusta Baker, the children's librarian. ... If that was the only good deed that lady ever did in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/i-learned-to-read-from-mrs-augusta-baker-the-children-s-librarian-if/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [Steal a chicken if you get a chance, Huck, because if you don't want it, someone else does and a good deed ain't never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/steal-a-chicken-if-you-get-a-chance-huck-because-if-you-don-t-want-it/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [True value lies in the good deeds that you put forward for the Hereafter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmad-bashir/true-value-lies-in-the-good-deeds-that-you-put-forward-for-the/) [Ahmad Bashir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmad-bashir/) > [Verily the kindness that gazes upon itself in a mirror turns to stone, and a good deed that calls itself by tender names becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/verily-the-kindness-that-gazes-upon-itself-in-a-mirror-turns-to-stone/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Let a good person do good deeds with the same zeal that an evil person does bad ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sholom-rokeach/let-a-good-person-do-good-deeds-with-the-same-zeal-that-an-evil/) [Sholom Rokeach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sholom-rokeach/) [Browse all 533 Good deeds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-deeds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/it-takes-many-good-deeds-to-build-a-good-reputation-and-only-one-bad/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Good deeds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/it-takes-many-good-deeds-to-build-a-good-reputation-and-only-one-bad/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/benjamin-franklin-65_good-deeds_it-takes-many-good-deeds-to-build-a-good_2018195.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/benjamin-franklin-65_good-deeds_it-takes-many-good-deeds-to-build-a-good_2018195.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/benjamin-franklin-65_good-deeds_it-takes-many-good-deeds-to-build-a-good_2018195.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.” — Benjamin Franklin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benjamin Franklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It takes many good deeds to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/it-takes-many-good-deeds-to-build-a-good-reputation-and-only-one-bad/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/it-takes-many-good-deeds-to-build-a-good-reputation-and-only-one-bad/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```