--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is better, however, for his own…" description: "\"It is better, however, for his own reputation that the story-teller should risk a few actions for libel on account of these unfortunate coincidences th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b2/james-payn-23169_accounts_it-is-better-however-for-his-own-reputat_1998269.jpg" --- # It is better, however, for his own reputation that the… ![“It is better, however, for his own reputation that the story-teller should risk a few actions for libel on account of these unfortunate coincidences than that he should adopt the melancholy device of using blanks or asterisks.” quote by James Payn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b2/james-payn-23169_accounts_it-is-better-however-for-his-own-reputat_1998269.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b2/james-payn-23169_accounts_it-is-better-however-for-his-own-reputat_1998269.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b2/james-payn-23169_accounts_it-is-better-however-for-his-own-reputat_1998269.jpg) > “It is better, however, for his own reputation that the story-teller should risk a few actions for libel on account of these unfortunate coincidences than that he should adopt the melancholy device of using blanks or asterisks.” [James Payn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-payn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He suggests using explicit details, even risky ones, preserves credibility better than vague placeholders. **In simple terms:** Specifics protect reputation better than blanks. Key Takeaway Prefer concrete detail over vague censorship. Themes integrity writing credibility Mood thoughtful cautious Type literary ethical When to use this quote - novel writing - historical fiction - editing - publishing - literary criticism Key Concepts journalism ethical storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance truth with potential harm? - When is omission preferable to detail? A Different Perspective Risking libel can still damage reputation if unverified. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accounts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accounts/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Actions Libel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions-libel-3501236/) [Coincidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coincidence/) [Devices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devices/) [Libel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libel/) [Libel Account](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libel-account-3501235/) [Melancholy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melancholy/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Reputation Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation-story-3501238/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Unfortunate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfortunate/) [Unfortunate Coincidences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfortunate-coincidences-3501237/) ## Related quotes > [“Slander does to a soul what cancer does to a cell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/slander-does-to-a-soul-what-cancer-does-to-a-cell/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [I am dumbfounded that there hasn't been a crackdown with the libel and slander laws on some of these would-be writers and reporters on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-am-dumbfounded-that-there-hasn-t-been-a-crackdown-with-the-libel/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [Many of the worst cases that triggered the campaign for libel reform involved corporations suing critics, so these particular sections of the bill are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/many-of-the-worst-cases-that-triggered-the-campaign-for-libel-reform/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [“If the original of any of your characters would win a libel case against you, you have failed to create a real character.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-braine/if-the-original-of-any-of-your-characters-would-win-a-libel-case/) [John Braine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-braine/) > [I am suing Lord Beaverbrook for libel and hope for some lovely tax-free money in damages. 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