--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When a man has once forfeited the…" description: "\"When a man has once forfeited the reputation of his integrity, he is set fast, and nothing will then serve his turn, neither truth nor falsehood.\" — Jo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/923/john-tillotson-8040_falsehood_when-a-man-has-once-forfeited-the-reputa_77063.jpg" --- # When a man has once forfeited the reputation of his… ![“When a man has once forfeited the reputation of his integrity, he is set fast, and nothing will then serve his turn, neither truth nor falsehood.” quote by John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/923/john-tillotson-8040_falsehood_when-a-man-has-once-forfeited-the-reputa_77063.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/923/john-tillotson-8040_falsehood_when-a-man-has-once-forfeited-the-reputa_77063.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/923/john-tillotson-8040_falsehood_when-a-man-has-once-forfeited-the-reputa_77063.jpg) > “When a man has once forfeited the reputation of his integrity, he is set fast, and nothing will then serve his turn, neither truth nor falsehood.” [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Once integrity is lost, a person becomes fixed in that state, immune to both honesty and deception. **In simple terms:** Loss of integrity locks behavior. Key Takeaway Integrity loss is irreversible. Themes integrity trust moral rigidity consequence truth deception Mood cautious reflective serious Type aphor philosophical statement When to use this quote - political scandal - personal betrayal - corporate fraud - legal testimony Key Concepts reputation character ethical consistency Practical Applications - ethical training - reputation management Questions to Reflect On - Can integrity ever be restored after loss? - How does loss of integrity affect decision making? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Falsehood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/falsehood/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [A single lie destroys a whole reputation of integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/a-single-lie-destroys-a-whole-reputation-of-integrity/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [Remember that reputation and integrity are your most valuable assets - and can be lost in a heartbeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/remember-that-reputation-and-integrity-are-your-most-valuable-assets/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [“When a man has forfeited fellowship at the feet of the cross, he has forfeited all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyi-ayoola/when-a-man-has-forfeited-fellowship-at-the-feet-of-the-cross-he-has/) [Seyi Ayoola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyi-ayoola/) > [A single lie destroys a whole reputation for integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/a-single-lie-destroys-a-whole-reputation-for-integrity/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [As the U.K. prepares to leave the E.U., we have an opportunity to leverage our reputation for integrity and fair play as we establish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-rudd/as-the-u-k-prepares-to-leave-the-e-u-we-have-an-opportunity-to/) [Amber Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-rudd/) > [If a man were only to deal in the world for a day, and should never have occasion to converse more with mankind, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/if-a-man-were-only-to-deal-in-the-world-for-a-day-and-should-never/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [Religion in a magistrate strengthens his authority, because it procures veneration, and gains a reputation to it. In all the affairs of this world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/religion-in-a-magistrate-strengthens-his-authority-because-it/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [The principle office of history I take to be this: to prevent virtuous actions from being forgotten, and that evil words and deeds should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-principle-office-of-history-i-take-to-be-this-to-prevent-virtuous/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught in falsehood's school, and the one man that dares to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/strange-times-are-these-in-which-we-live-when-old-and-young-are/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/so-true-is-it-that-all-transactions-of-preeminent-importance-are/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [“Falsehood of a good man is better than truth of a bad one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/falsehood-of-a-good-man-is-better-than-truth-of-a-bad-one/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [THE ART OF PEACE is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-art-of-peace-is-not-easy-it-is-a-fight-to-the-finish-the-slaying/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [falsehood is not more unjustifiable than unsafe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-burney/falsehood-is-not-more-unjustifiable-than-unsafe/) [Fanny Burney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-burney/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## More by John Tillotson > [Convulsive anger storms at large; or pale And silent, settles into full revenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/convulsive-anger-storms-at-large-or-pale-and-silent-settles-into-full/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [Religion in a magistrate strengthens his authority, because it procures veneration, and gains a reputation to it. In all the affairs of this world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/religion-in-a-magistrate-strengthens-his-authority-because-it/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [A good word is an easy obligation; but not to speak ill requires only our silence, which costs us nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/a-good-word-is-an-easy-obligation-but-not-to-speak-ill-requires-only/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [There is no readier way for a man to bring his own worth into question than by endeavoring to detract from the worth of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/there-is-no-readier-way-for-a-man-to-bring-his-own-worth-into/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [Malice and hatred are very fretting and vexatious, and apt to make our minds sore and uneasy; but he that can moderate these affections…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/malice-and-hatred-are-very-fretting-and-vexatious-and-apt-to-make-our/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [Surely modesty never hurt any cause; and the confidence of man seems to me to be much like the wrath of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/surely-modesty-never-hurt-any-cause-and-the-confidence-of-man-seems/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [So that we pursue the happiness of this world just as little Children chase birds, when we think we are come very near it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/so-that-we-pursue-the-happiness-of-this-world-just-as-little-children/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [How often might a man, after he had jumbled a set of letters in a bag, fling them out upon the ground before they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/how-often-might-a-man-after-he-had-jumbled-a-set-of-letters-in-a-bag/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [If a man were only to deal in the world for a day, and should never have occasion to converse more with mankind, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/if-a-man-were-only-to-deal-in-the-world-for-a-day-and-should-never/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [They who are in the highest places, and have the most power, have the least liberty, because they are the most observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/they-who-are-in-the-highest-places-and-have-the-most-power-have-the/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [The angriest person in a controversy is the one most liable to be in the wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/the-angriest-person-in-a-controversy-is-the-one-most-liable-to-be-in/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [If God were not a necessary Being of Himself, He might almost seem to be made for the use and benefit of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/if-god-were-not-a-necessary-being-of-himself-he-might-almost-seem-to/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [“Fill each day with life and heart. There is no pleasure in the world comparable to the delight and satisfaction that a good person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/fill-each-day-with-life-and-heart-there-is-no-pleasure-in-the-world/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [Whether religion be true or false, it must be necessarily granted to be the only wise principle and safe hypothesis for a man to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/whether-religion-be-true-or-false-it-must-be-necessarily-granted-to/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [Fill each day with light and heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/fill-each-day-with-light-and-heart/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) [Explore all 85 John Tillotson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) ## More Falsehood quotes > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [falsehood is not more unjustifiable than unsafe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-burney/falsehood-is-not-more-unjustifiable-than-unsafe/) [Fanny Burney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-burney/) > [THE ART OF PEACE is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-art-of-peace-is-not-easy-it-is-a-fight-to-the-finish-the-slaying/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Falsehood of a good man is better than truth of a bad one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/falsehood-of-a-good-man-is-better-than-truth-of-a-bad-one/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/so-true-is-it-that-all-transactions-of-preeminent-importance-are/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught in falsehood's school, and the one man that dares to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/strange-times-are-these-in-which-we-live-when-old-and-young-are/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Tangible language, which often tells more falsehoods than truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/tangible-language-which-often-tells-more-falsehoods-than-truths/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Whether statistics be an art or a science... or a scientific art, we concern ourselves little. It is the basis of social and political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolphe-quetelet/whether-statistics-be-an-art-or-a-science-or-a-scientific-art-we/) [Adolphe Quetelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolphe-quetelet/) > [Falsehood, like the dry-rot, flourishes the more in proportion as air and light are excluded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/falsehood-like-the-dry-rot-flourishes-the-more-in-proportion-as-air/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [“God is not as a man.” He thus shows that all men are indeed guilty of falsehood, inasmuch as they change from one thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/god-is-not-as-a-man-he-thus-shows-that-all-men-are-indeed-guilty-of/) The Church Fathers > [People who do not know the Bible well have been gulled into thinking it is a good guide to morality. 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