--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At the moment, my reputation for honesty…" description: "\"“At the moment, my reputation for honesty and integrity has been destroyed. If your friends would rather withdraw from the venture, I’ll understand.” “..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/judith-mcnaught-687_betrayed_at-the-moment-my-reputation-for-honesty_1185162.png" --- # At the moment, my reputation for honesty and integrity has… ![“At the moment, my reputation for honesty and integrity has been destroyed. If your friends would rather withdraw from the venture, I’ll understand.” “They’ve already withdrawn,” Jordan admitted reluctantly. “I’m staying with you.” “It’s just as well they have,” Ian replied, reaching for the…” quote by Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/judith-mcnaught-687_betrayed_at-the-moment-my-reputation-for-honesty_1185162.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/judith-mcnaught-687_betrayed_at-the-moment-my-reputation-for-honesty_1185162.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/judith-mcnaught-687_betrayed_at-the-moment-my-reputation-for-honesty_1185162.png) > ““At the moment, my reputation for honesty and integrity has been destroyed. If your friends would rather withdraw from the venture, I’ll understand.” “They’ve already withdrawn,” Jordan admitted reluctantly. “I’m staying with you.” “It’s just as well they have,” Ian replied, reaching for the contracts and beginning to scratch out the names of the other parties. “In the end, there’ll be greater profit for us both.” “Ian,” Jordan said in a low, deliberate voice, “you are tempting me to take a swing at you, just to see if you’ll wince when I hit you. I’ve taken about all I can of your indifference to everything that’s happening.” Ian glanced up from his documents, and Jordan saw it then-the muscle clamping in Ian’s jaw, the merest automatic reaction to fury or torment, and he felt a mixture of relief and embarrassment. “I regret that remark more than I can say,” he apologized quietly. “And if it’s any consolation, I know firsthand how it feels to believe your wife has betrayed you.” “I don’t need consolation,” Ian clipped. “I need time.” “To get over it,” Jordan agreed. “Time,” Ian drawled coolly, “to go over these documents.” As Jordan walked down the hall toward the front door he wasn’t certain if he’d only imagined that miniscule sign of emotion.”” [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A tense negotiation reveals personal betrayal, guilt, and the desire for emotional resolution amid business dealings. **In simple terms:** Business talks expose deep personal hurt and need for time. Key Takeaway Allow space for emotional processing before decisions. Themes betrayal trust business negotiation emotional conflict power dynamics Mood tense empathetic introspective Type advice psychological insight dialogue excerpt When to use this quote - corporate meetings - marital counseling - legal settlements - high‑stakes deals - personal confrontations Key Concepts psychology conflict resolution ethical dilemmas communication Questions to Reflect On - How can you separate personal feelings from professional decisions? - What strategies help manage betrayal in high‑pressure environments? A Different Perspective The dialogue may dramatize conflict beyond typical business interactions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Betrayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayed/) [Betrayed Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayed-don-3492071/) [Consolation Ian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consolation-ian-3492070/) [Front door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/front-door/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Honesty and integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty-and-integrity/) [Jordan Admitted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jordan-admitted-3492069/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wife Betrayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife-betrayed-3492068/) ## Related quotes > [That's life: trust and you're betrayed; don't trust and you betray yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/that-s-life-trust-and-you-re-betrayed-don-t-trust-and-you-betray/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [Honesty and integrity are absolutely essential for success in life - all areas of life. The really good news is that anyone can develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/honesty-and-integrity-are-absolutely-essential-for-success-in-life/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [What I want is an international monument to the world's greatest playwright. It would be an attraction that would be both educational and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-wanamaker/what-i-want-is-an-international-monument-to-the-world-s-greatest/) [Sam Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-wanamaker/) > [I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-not-bound-to-win-but-i-am-bound-to-be-true/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Integrity gives you real freedom because you have nothing to fear since you have nothing to hide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/integrity-gives-you-real-freedom-because-you-have-nothing-to-fear/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Whether you voted for me or not, I work for you, and will always seek to serve our state with honesty and integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/whether-you-voted-for-me-or-not-i-work-for-you-and-will-always-seek/) [Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/) > [“The best legacy a man can leave his children is the memory and influence of a large, broad, finely developed mentality, a well-disciplined, highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/the-best-legacy-a-man-can-leave-his-children-is-the-memory-and/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [Crafted with care and with love, this beautifully constructed novel reveals hard truths and difficult secrets. Diana Davidson is a writer of great honesty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-holdstock/crafted-with-care-and-with-love-this-beautifully-constructed-novel/) [Pauline Holdstock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-holdstock/) > [To follow implies not only the denying of one's own clarity, investigation, integrity and honesty , but it also implies that your motive in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/to-follow-implies-not-only-the-denying-of-one-s-own-clarity/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I am sure you will be guided right in your decision, to place implicit faith in his integrity and honesty. Best wishes from one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-milhous-nixon/i-am-sure-you-will-be-guided-right-in-your-decision-to-place-implicit/) [Hannah Milhous Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-milhous-nixon/) > [I see A Real Man as people who understand love and its many languages and therefore they treat each relationship in which they engage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/i-see-a-real-man-as-people-who-understand-love-and-its-many-languages/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [If you're Obama, can you imagine being lectured to about honesty and integrity from a convicted perjurer, Bill Clinton? My gosh, folks, I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/if-you-re-obama-can-you-imagine-being-lectured-to-about-honesty-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“Merck • Corporate social responsibility • Unequivocal excellence in all aspects of the company • Science-based innovation • Honesty and integrity • Profit, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/merck-corporate-social-responsibility-unequivocal-excellence-in-all/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [“A reputation for honesty and integrity is one of those “intangible assets” that pays off in ways we can never fully anticipate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-turak/a-reputation-for-honesty-and-integrity-is-one-of-those-intangible/) [August Turak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-turak/) > [Social media is your opportunity to reach a massive number of people with transparency, honesty, and integrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/social-media-is-your-opportunity-to-reach-a-massive-number-of-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Judith McNaught > [“What, may I ask, does your one truck contain if not gowns?” Inspiration struck, and Elizabeth smiled radiantly. “Something of great value. Priceless value,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/what-may-i-ask-does-your-one-truck-contain-if-not-gowns-inspiration/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“When she was turning the bacon, he came up behind her, his hands settling on her waist as he peered over her shoulder. “That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/when-she-was-turning-the-bacon-he-came-up-behind-her-his-hands/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“At five minutes to five,Jim walked into Mary's office, wearing his gray sweater and balancing four pieces of birthday cake on two plates. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/at-five-minutes-to-five-jim-walked-into-mary-s-office-wearing-his/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“To have him look at her as if she was a piece of office equipment whose presence offended him but whom he was obliged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/to-have-him-look-at-her-as-if-she-was-a-piece-of-office-equipment/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“Am I to assume the Valerie I was introduced to earlier was the Valerie of our greenhouse notes?” He realized his mistake the instant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/am-i-to-assume-the-valerie-i-was-introduced-to-earlier-was-the/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“How ‘bout some coffee?” Jake said as he hurried over to the coffee pot on the stove and filled a mug with the remainder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/how-bout-some-coffee-jake-said-as-he-hurried-over-to-the-coffee-pot/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“He bowed politely to Hortense, who tipped her head toward the elderly gray-haired lady beside her, who seemed to be dozing, her head drooping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/he-bowed-politely-to-hortense-who-tipped-her-head-toward-the-elderly/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“He finished his meeting a few minutes later and almost rudely ejected his business acquaintances from his library, then he went in search of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/he-finished-his-meeting-a-few-minutes-later-and-almost-rudely-ejected/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“When I’m under stress,” he emphasized, sliding the magnificent emerald onto her finger, “I buy everything in sight. It took my last ounce of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/when-i-m-under-stress-he-emphasized-sliding-the-magnificent-emerald/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [Some people feel love in their hearts, Julie. Some of us feel it all way into our souls. We're the ones who can't forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/some-people-feel-love-in-their-hearts-julie-some-of-us-feel-it-all/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“Lady Thornton, how very good of you to find the time to pay us a social call! Would it be too pushing of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/lady-thornton-how-very-good-of-you-to-find-the-time-to-pay-us-a/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“The truth is that I want you. I have always wanted you, and you know that.” “I hate that word,” she burst out, trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/the-truth-is-that-i-want-you-i-have-always-wanted-you-and-you-know/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“In some ways it seemed wrong that he lived here now, in this solitary place. At least part of the time he ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/in-some-ways-it-seemed-wrong-that-he-lived-here-now-in-this-solitary/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [“We need to straighten out some personal matters between us. Why don't we do it over dinner tonight?" he suggested. Lauren courteously refused with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/we-need-to-straighten-out-some-personal-matters-between-us-why-don-t/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [she kissed him with all the aching longing that being this close to him evoked; she kissed him in all the ways he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/she-kissed-him-with-all-the-aching-longing-that-being-this-close-to/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) [Explore all 405 Judith McNaught quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) ## More Betrayed quotes > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office-seeking. Men of good character and impulses are betrayed by it into all sorts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/nothing-brings-out-the-lower-traits-of-human-nature-like-office/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [We are all too keenly aware that those of you who supported us by purchasing the 3DS in the beginningmay feel betrayed and criticize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satoru-iwata/we-are-all-too-keenly-aware-that-those-of-you-who-supported-us-by/) [Satoru Iwata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satoru-iwata/) > [In tragic life, God wot, No villain need be! Passions spin the plot: We are betrayed by what is false within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-meredith/in-tragic-life-god-wot-no-villain-need-be-passions-spin-the-plot-we/) [George Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-meredith/) > [The mantra of the new historicists was "we have betrayed ourselves." Since their emergence, there have been more or less interesting paradigm shifts having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-fry/the-mantra-of-the-new-historicists-was-we-have-betrayed-ourselves/) [Paul Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-fry/) > [It is less painful, it turns out, to feel betrayed than to feel forgotten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-grosz/it-is-less-painful-it-turns-out-to-feel-betrayed-than-to-feel/) [Stephen Grosz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-grosz/) > [Being betrayed by someone you love just makes you more selective and careful when trying out a new relationship/friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-someone-you-love-just-makes-you-more-selective-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Rome has betrayed itself. It knew the truth and chose violence, it knew humaneness and it chose tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/rome-has-betrayed-itself-it-knew-the-truth-and-chose-violence-it-knew/) [Friedrich Durrenmatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-d-rrenmatt/) > [Those who are successfully to lead their fellow-men, should have once possessed the nobler feelings. We have all known individuals whose magnanimity was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/those-who-are-successfully-to-lead-their-fellow-men-should-have-once/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [I'm a military man, I did what I did only because my country had to be saved from tribalism and feudalism. If I failed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mengistu-haile-mariam/i-m-a-military-man-i-did-what-i-did-only-because-my-country-had-to-be/) [Mengistu Haile Mariam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mengistu-haile-mariam/) > [To be robbed and betrayed by a fiendish underground conspiracy, or by the earthly agents of Satan, is at least a romantic sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-taibbi/to-be-robbed-and-betrayed-by-a-fiendish-underground-conspiracy-or-by/) [Matt Taibbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-taibbi/) > [“Cathy, don't look so defeated. She was only trying to put us down again. Maybe nothing did work out right for her, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-c-andrews/cathy-don-t-look-so-defeated-she-was-only-trying-to-put-us-down-again/) [V.C. Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-c-andrews/) > [When I was young, I had a favorite movie star. One day, I saw one of his movies, and it was bad, and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/when-i-was-young-i-had-a-favorite-movie-star-one-day-i-saw-one-of-his/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I really had faith in you but you betrayed me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafee/i-really-had-faith-in-you-but-you-betrayed-me/) [Lafee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafee/) > [No-one is ever betrayed by true love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaufre-rudel/no-one-is-ever-betrayed-by-true-love/) [Jaufre Rudel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaufre-rudel/) [Browse all 708 Betrayed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“At the moment, my reputation for honesty and integrity has been destroyed. If your friends would rather withdraw from the venture, I’ll understand.” “They’ve already withdrawn,” Jordan admitted reluctantly. “I’m staying with you.” “It’s just as well they have,” Ian replied, reaching for the contracts and beginning to scratch out the names of the other parties. “In the end, there’ll be greater profit for us both.” “Ian,” Jordan said in a low, deliberate voice, “you are tempting me to take a swing at you, just to see if you’ll wince when I hit you. I’ve taken about all I can of your indifference to everything that’s happening.” Ian glanced up from his documents, and Jordan saw it then-the muscle clamping in Ian’s jaw, the merest automatic reaction to fury or torment, and he felt a mixture of relief and embarrassment. “I regret that remark more than I can say,” he apologized quietly. “And if it’s any consolation, I know firsthand how it feels to believe your wife has betrayed you.” “I don’t need consolation,” Ian clipped. “I need time.” “To get over it,” Jordan agreed. “Time,” Ian drawled coolly, “to go over these documents.” As Jordan walked down the hall toward the front door he wasn’t certain if he’d only imagined that miniscule sign of emotion.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Judith McNaught" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/at-the-moment-my-reputation-for-honesty-and-integrity-has-been/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Betrayed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/at-the-moment-my-reputation-for-honesty-and-integrity-has-been/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/judith-mcnaught-687_betrayed_at-the-moment-my-reputation-for-honesty_1185162.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/judith-mcnaught-687_betrayed_at-the-moment-my-reputation-for-honesty_1185162.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cc/judith-mcnaught-687_betrayed_at-the-moment-my-reputation-for-honesty_1185162.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“At the moment, my reputation for honesty and integrity has been destroyed. 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