--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reputation is what others think about…" description: "\"Reputation is what others think about you. What's far more important is character, because that is what you think about yourself.\" — Billie Jean King" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/billie-jean-king-3780_about-yourself_reputation-is-what-others-think-about-yo_1219804.jpg" --- # Reputation is what others think about you. What's far more… ![“Reputation is what others think about you. What's far more important is character, because that is what you think about yourself.” quote by Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/billie-jean-king-3780_about-yourself_reputation-is-what-others-think-about-yo_1219804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/billie-jean-king-3780_about-yourself_reputation-is-what-others-think-about-yo_1219804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/billie-jean-king-3780_about-yourself_reputation-is-what-others-think-about-yo_1219804.jpg) > “Reputation is what others think about you. What's far more important is character, because that is what you think about yourself.” [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reputation reflects others’ views, but character is the internal self‑assessment that truly defines you. **In simple terms:** Reputation is external; character is internal. Key Takeaway Prioritize building strong character over worrying about reputation. Themes integrity selfesteem leadership identity Mood confident thoughtful Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - career decisions - personal branding - relationship building Key Concepts ethics selfreflection publicperception Questions to Reflect On - How does your character influence others’ perceptions? - Can reputation ever be a positive force? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on character may ignore useful external feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about-yourself/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [One way to evaluate your own reputation is to think about what would be said of you at your eulogy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-koslow/one-way-to-evaluate-your-own-reputation-is-to-think-about-what-would/) [Brian Koslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-koslow/) > [I hope that I have gained the reputation of being someone that would do anything. I think that that's an admirable reputation to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lo-truglio/i-hope-that-i-have-gained-the-reputation-of-being-someone-that-would/) [Joe Lo Truglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lo-truglio/) > [“Reputation is what others think of us; character is what God knows of us. When you have spent what feels like eternity trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-alder/reputation-is-what-others-think-of-us-character-is-what-god-knows-of/) [Shannon Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-alder/) > [“Reputation is what others think of us; character is what we know of us. When you spend a lot of energy trying to repair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tambr-bryant-strategic-intervention-life-coach/reputation-is-what-others-think-of-us-character-is-what-we-know-of-us/) [Tambré Bryant - Strategic Intervention Life Coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tambr-bryant-strategic-intervention-life-coach/) > [People say I've got a bad reputation. I think I've got the best reputation in the building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/people-say-i-ve-got-a-bad-reputation-i-think-i-ve-got-the-best/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Be more concerned about your character than your reputation, because Your character is Who u are & Your reputation is what others think of you ..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-bassam/be-more-concerned-about-your-character-than-your-reputation-because/) [Ali Bassam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-bassam/) > [I always think change is important in a character. The most dynamic choices that you can make for a character are always the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sarsgaard/i-always-think-change-is-important-in-a-character-the-most-dynamic/) [Peter Sarsgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sarsgaard/) > [I do think that it's extremely important with this character show her assuming power with a great deal of grace, and find out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/i-do-think-that-it-s-extremely-important-with-this-character-show-her/) [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) > [Beauty is only skin deep .the way you look is not as important as your character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-kid/beauty-is-only-skin-deep-the-way-you-look-is-not-as-important-as-your/) [Ace Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-kid/) > [What a character wears and how it affects their mood and their movements has always been very important to me. A character's clothes, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/what-a-character-wears-and-how-it-affects-their-mood-and-their/) [Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/) > [A finishing move is an important part of one's character - and sometimes success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-omega/a-finishing-move-is-an-important-part-of-one-s-character-and/) [Kenny Omega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-omega/) > [Every character for me is the same. I give equal importance to every character I do, that's what's more important, whether this character has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallika-sherawat/every-character-for-me-is-the-same-i-give-equal-importance-to-every/) [Mallika Sherawat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallika-sherawat/) > [Talent is important, but it's more important that you have character. Combined with talent, you can be a very good player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-de-boer/talent-is-important-but-it-s-more-important-that-you-have-character/) [Frank de Boer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-de-boer/) > [There are many factors that make a serial hit or flop, but what is important is the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiten-tejwani/there-are-many-factors-that-make-a-serial-hit-or-flop-but-what-is/) [Hiten Tejwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiten-tejwani/) > [Music or sound in a film is a character as important as another character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melvin-van-peebles/music-or-sound-in-a-film-is-a-character-as-important-as-another/) [Melvin Van Peebles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melvin-van-peebles/) ## More by Billie Jean King > [I like to see what future generations are thinking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/i-like-to-see-what-future-generations-are-thinking-about/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Natural talent only determines the limits of your athletic potential. It's dedication and a willingness to discipline your life that makes you great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/natural-talent-only-determines-the-limits-of-your-athletic-potential/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Don't worry about what people say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/don-t-worry-about-what-people-say/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [I was always in the tennis business-from 1968. I was in tournaments and also on World Team Tennis teams as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/i-was-always-in-the-tennis-business-from-1968-i-was-in-tournaments/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [In 1973, women got 59 cents on the dollar; now we are getting 74 cents on the dollar. In the area of finance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/in-1973-women-got-59-cents-on-the-dollar-now-we-are-getting-74-cents/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Martina's gone with people who don't want to be out, and it drives her crazy because she'd rather be open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/martina-s-gone-with-people-who-don-t-want-to-be-out-and-it-drives-her/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [They're not put on earth to be martyrs; they have to want to come out. It depends on your culture, where you work, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/they-re-not-put-on-earth-to-be-martyrs-they-have-to-want-to-come-out/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Trust and respect is something you earn, not something that is given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/trust-and-respect-is-something-you-earn-not-something-that-is-given/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [When we reach the point where the women athletes are getting their pick of dates just as easily as the men athletes, then we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/when-we-reach-the-point-where-the-women-athletes-are-getting-their/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Everyone has people in their lives that are gay, lesbian or transgender or bisexual. They may not want to admit it, but I guarantee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/everyone-has-people-in-their-lives-that-are-gay-lesbian-or/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [A girl didn't get an athletic scholarship until the fall of 1972 for the very first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/a-girl-didn-t-get-an-athletic-scholarship-until-the-fall-of-1972-for/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Women get the attention when we get into the men's arena, and that's sad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/women-get-the-attention-when-we-get-into-the-men-s-arena-and-that-s/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [Men still get a lot more opportunity. It is still a big part of the old boy network. They have more companies they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/men-still-get-a-lot-more-opportunity-it-is-still-a-big-part-of-the/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [It's very important to take tennis to the people. For young people, they get to see the best in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/it-s-very-important-to-take-tennis-to-the-people-for-young-people/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [For me, losing a tennis match isn't failure, it's research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/for-me-losing-a-tennis-match-isn-t-failure-it-s-research/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) [Explore all 122 Billie Jean King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) ## More About yourself quotes > [“they all have always loved you Will Herondale, for you cannot hide what is good about yourself, however har you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-all-have-always-loved-you-will-herondale-for-you-cannot-hide/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you can't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/if-you-can-t-love-yourself-how-in-the-hell-you-gonna-love-somebody/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [People are in denial all the time, hiding things. If I tell you a racist or dirty joke and you laugh, you're telling me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/people-are-in-denial-all-the-time-hiding-things-if-i-tell-you-a/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [Change your thoughts, change your life. —LAO TZU When I was fighting depression, I remember hearing this expression and not understanding it at first.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/change-your-thoughts-change-your-life-lao-tzu-when-i-was-fighting/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Dreams really tell you about yourself more than anything else in this world could ever tell you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-browne/dreams-really-tell-you-about-yourself-more-than-anything-else-in-this/) [Sylvia Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-browne/) > [Celebrate all the things you don't like about yourself. love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/celebrate-all-the-things-you-don-t-like-about-yourself-love-yourself/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [Start enjoying the things you like about yourself, and if there are things you want to change, either get to work on it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benji-madden/start-enjoying-the-things-you-like-about-yourself-and-if-there-are/) [Benji Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benji-madden/) > [Always be yourself. There's only one you. You should embrace anything that you don't like about yourself because that's individual and that's you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesy-nelson/always-be-yourself-there-s-only-one-you-you-should-embrace-anything/) [Jesy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesy-nelson/) > [It's too distracting to read about yourself. You want to be perfect and you want everyone to love you, and that's never going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saoirse-ronan/it-s-too-distracting-to-read-about-yourself-you-want-to-be-perfect/) [Saoirse Ronan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saoirse-ronan/) > [If you want to know how to make people shun you and laugh at you behind your back and even despise you, here is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/if-you-want-to-know-how-to-make-people-shun-you-and-laugh-at-you/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [The only thing a master can teach is how to learn about yourself. There are no secrets. They are only techniques to waken yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/the-only-thing-a-master-can-teach-is-how-to-learn-about-yourself/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [I don't want to sell myself short. You hurt your spouse, not so much by the infidelity, but by the negative feelings about yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-zaslow/i-don-t-want-to-sell-myself-short-you-hurt-your-spouse-not-so-much-by/) [Michael Zaslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-zaslow/) > [A stranger can see in an instant something in you that you might spend years learning about yourself. How awful we all are when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-elliott/a-stranger-can-see-in-an-instant-something-in-you-that-you-might/) [Stephen Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-elliott/) > [Knowing is the most profound kind of love, giving someone the gift of knowledge about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-norman/knowing-is-the-most-profound-kind-of-love-giving-someone-the-gift-of/) [Marsha Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-norman/) > [Start telling the truth now and never stop. Begin by telling the truth to yourself about yourself. Then tell the truth to yourself about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/start-telling-the-truth-now-and-never-stop-begin-by-telling-the-truth/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) [Browse all 770 About yourself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about-yourself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Reputation is what others think about you. What's far more important is character, because that is what you think about yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Billie Jean King" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/reputation-is-what-others-think-about-you-what-s-far-more-important/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About yourself" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/reputation-is-what-others-think-about-you-what-s-far-more-important/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/billie-jean-king-3780_about-yourself_reputation-is-what-others-think-about-yo_1219804.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/billie-jean-king-3780_about-yourself_reputation-is-what-others-think-about-yo_1219804.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2f/billie-jean-king-3780_about-yourself_reputation-is-what-others-think-about-yo_1219804.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Reputation is what others think about you. What's far more important is character, because that is what you…” — Billie Jean King", "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": "Billie Jean King", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Reputation is what others think about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/reputation-is-what-others-think-about-you-what-s-far-more-important/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/reputation-is-what-others-think-about-you-what-s-far-more-important/#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 } } ] } ```