--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't believe in destroying GOOD…" description: "\"I don't believe in destroying GOOD mysteries or adding to BAD reputations.\" — John Balance" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc1/john-balance-65199_bad-reputation_i-don-t-believe-in-destroying-good-myste_37294.jpg" --- # I don't believe in destroying GOOD mysteries or adding to… ![“I don't believe in destroying GOOD mysteries or adding to BAD reputations.” quote by John Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc1/john-balance-65199_bad-reputation_i-don-t-believe-in-destroying-good-myste_37294.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc1/john-balance-65199_bad-reputation_i-don-t-believe-in-destroying-good-myste_37294.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc1/john-balance-65199_bad-reputation_i-don-t-believe-in-destroying-good-myste_37294.jpg) > “I don't believe in destroying GOOD mysteries or adding to BAD reputations.” John Balance ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates preserving positive intrigue while avoiding harmful gossip, emphasizing ethical restraint in judgment and storytelling. **In simple terms:** Protect good mystery, reject bad reputation. Key Takeaway Balance curiosity with integrity. Themes ethics communication reputation mystery integrity Mood thoughtful cautious Type aphor advice When to use this quote - media reporting - personal relationships - online discussions - public relations Key Concepts social perception information ethics Practical Applications - ethical journalism - reputation management Questions to Reflect On - How does preserving mystery affect trust? - When is it justified to reveal a reputation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-reputation/) [Mysteries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysteries/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) ## Related quotes > [It's good to have mysteries. It reminds us that there's more to the world than just making do and having a bit of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-lint/it-s-good-to-have-mysteries-it-reminds-us-that-there-s-more-to-the/) [Charles de Lint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-lint/) > [We've always been fans of a good mystery; we think all kids are, and there weren't any good mysteries out there these days for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kate-olsen/we-ve-always-been-fans-of-a-good-mystery-we-think-all-kids-are-and/) [Mary-Kate Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kate-olsen/) > [We are great mysteries. No matter what we imagine we may know, even for all the facts we might gather, we don't know each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/we-are-great-mysteries-no-matter-what-we-imagine-we-may-know-even-for/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Reputations, like beavers and cloaks, shall last some people twice the time of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-william-jerrold/reputations-like-beavers-and-cloaks-shall-last-some-people-twice-the/) [Douglas William Jerrold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-william-jerrold/) > [There is a constant ebb and flow in art historical reputations. The reputation of even the greatest figures like Picasso are in flux.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-deitch/there-is-a-constant-ebb-and-flow-in-art-historical-reputations-the/) [Jeffrey Deitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-deitch/) > [“It's a matter of dishonour, and when it gets out, which it's bound to, this will be the one act you'll be remembered for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/it-s-a-matter-of-dishonour-and-when-it-gets-out-which-it-s-bound-to/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I read somewhere that writers, as they get older, become more and more perfectionist. Which may be because they think more highly of themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-read-somewhere-that-writers-as-they-get-older-become-more-and-more/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I've always slightly envied other actors I know who have different reputations. I think, 'God, you don't get people coming up to you, going,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-ve-always-slightly-envied-other-actors-i-know-who-have-different/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Reputations are made by searching for things that can't be done and doing them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-tyger/reputations-are-made-by-searching-for-things-that-can-t-be-done-and/) [Frank Tyger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-tyger/) > [Posthumous reputations have little to do with real lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/posthumous-reputations-have-little-to-do-with-real-lives/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [In politics people build whole reputations off of getting one thing right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/in-politics-people-build-whole-reputations-off-of-getting-one-thing/) [Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/) > [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/) > [Budgets can make or break reputations and governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priti-patel/budgets-can-make-or-break-reputations-and-governments/) [Priti Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priti-patel/) > [“What saves doctors' reputations is the fact that many illnesses are benign and that people can go on living with a large number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-chevallier/what-saves-doctors-reputations-is-the-fact-that-many-illnesses-are/) [Gabriel Chevallier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-chevallier/) > [It takes little or nothing to undo reputations, the merest trifle makes and remakes them, it is simply a question of finding the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/it-takes-little-or-nothing-to-undo-reputations-the-merest-trifle/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) ## More by John Balance > [The industrial use of semen will revolutionize society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-balance/the-industrial-use-of-semen-will-revolutionize-society/) John Balance > [Excess makes the heart grow fonder...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-balance/excess-makes-the-heart-grow-fonder/) John Balance > [COIL would very much like to see the creation of a newsgroup for minimal musics. We enjoy a wide spectrum of such musics, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-balance/coil-would-very-much-like-to-see-the-creation-of-a-newsgroup-for/) John Balance Explore all 4 John Balance quotes ## More Bad reputation quotes > [One man lies in his words, and gets a bad reputation; another in his manners, and enjoys a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/one-man-lies-in-his-words-and-gets-a-bad-reputation-another-in-his/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“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/) > [It amazes me how easy it is for things to change, how easy it is to start off down the same road you always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-amazes-me-how-easy-it-is-for-things-to-change-how-easy-it-is-to/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [People feel feminists are aggressive, men-hating women with a little moustache. I think it's got a bad reputation because when feminism came into being,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twinkle-khanna/people-feel-feminists-are-aggressive-men-hating-women-with-a-little/) [Twinkle Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twinkle-khanna/) > [I was willing to accept a bad reputation if I deserved it, but it was going to be based on my actions, not on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wasserman/i-was-willing-to-accept-a-bad-reputation-if-i-deserved-it-but-it-was/) [Casey Wasserman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wasserman/) > [An alibi is a reason with a bad reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/an-alibi-is-a-reason-with-a-bad-reputation/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Either a good or a bad reputation outruns and gets before people wherever they go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/either-a-good-or-a-bad-reputation-outruns-and-gets-before-people/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [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/) > [Better to die than to live on with a bad reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/better-to-die-than-to-live-on-with-a-bad-reputation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If niggas want to treat me bad because of my reputation, let them see my character first](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sali-coulibaly/if-niggas-want-to-treat-me-bad-because-of-my-reputation-let-them-see/) Sali Coulibaly > [I haven't talked to the press much. That's why I've gotten kind of a bad reputation. They look at me and think I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/i-haven-t-talked-to-the-press-much-that-s-why-i-ve-gotten-kind-of-a/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [“If you want someone to help you heal then you don’t go to the enemy; you go to the one person that fears a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/if-you-want-someone-to-help-you-heal-then-you-don-t-go-to-the-enemy/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“Turkish Delight Turkish delight has had a bad reputation since that man C.S.Lewis - a positive genius in other ways - linked it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-colgan/turkish-delight-turkish-delight-has-had-a-bad-reputation-since-that/) [Jenny Colgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-colgan/) > [Because at the end of the day, you really only have one reputation and one shot, and once you kind of get that bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailie-deegan/because-at-the-end-of-the-day-you-really-only-have-one-reputation-and/) [Hailie Deegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailie-deegan/) > [“I have no idea why hitting people when their backs are turned has such a bad reputation. I've always found it most effective.' Casually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-gannon/i-have-no-idea-why-hitting-people-when-their-backs-are-turned-has/) [Cassandra Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-gannon/) [Browse all 81 Bad reputation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-reputation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't believe in destroying GOOD mysteries or adding to BAD reputations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Balance" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-balance/i-don-t-believe-in-destroying-good-mysteries-or-adding-to-bad/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad reputation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-balance/i-don-t-believe-in-destroying-good-mysteries-or-adding-to-bad/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc1/john-balance-65199_bad-reputation_i-don-t-believe-in-destroying-good-myste_37294.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc1/john-balance-65199_bad-reputation_i-don-t-believe-in-destroying-good-myste_37294.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc1/john-balance-65199_bad-reputation_i-don-t-believe-in-destroying-good-myste_37294.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't believe in destroying GOOD mysteries or adding to BAD reputations.” — John Balance", "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": "John Balance", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-balance/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't believe in destroying GOOD...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-balance/i-don-t-believe-in-destroying-good-mysteries-or-adding-to-bad/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-balance/i-don-t-believe-in-destroying-good-mysteries-or-adding-to-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 } } ] } ```