--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Take from a man his reputation for…" description: "\"Take from a man his reputation for probity, and the more shrewd and clever he is, the more hated and mistrusted he becomes.\" — Marcus Tullius Cicero" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_clever_take-from-a-man-his-reputation-for-probi_1701512.jpg" --- # Take from a man his reputation for probity, and the more… ![“Take from a man his reputation for probity, and the more shrewd and clever he is, the more hated and mistrusted he becomes.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_clever_take-from-a-man-his-reputation-for-probi_1701512.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_clever_take-from-a-man-his-reputation-for-probi_1701512.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_clever_take-from-a-man-his-reputation-for-probi_1701512.jpg) > “Take from a man his reputation for probity, and the more shrewd and clever he is, the more hated and mistrusted he becomes.” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Removing a man's reputation for honesty makes him appear clever but also more mistrusted and disliked. **In simple terms:** Loss of honesty leads to suspicion despite cleverness. Key Takeaway Maintain integrity to preserve trust. Themes ethics reputation trust Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - political leadership - business negotiations - public relations Key Concepts moral philosophy social perception Questions to Reflect On - Can reputation be rebuilt after loss? - What role does honesty play in leadership? A Different Perspective Cleverness without honesty can erode credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) [Clever Hated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever-hated-1156096/) [Hated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hated/) [Hated Mistrusted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hated-mistrusted-1156095/) [Man Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-reputation-306050/) [Mistrusted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistrusted-695211/) [Probity Shrewd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probity-shrewd-1156094/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) ## Related quotes > [Every man's reputation proceeds from those of his own household.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/every-man-s-reputation-proceeds-from-those-of-his-own-household/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“It was a wonderful experience. She mistrusted his very slumbers--and she seemed to think I could tell her why! Thus a poor mortal seduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-was-a-wonderful-experience-she-mistrusted-his-very-slumbers-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It was the doubt that knocked me over, Mina: the terrible doubt as to the reality of the whole thing. I felt impotent and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syrie-james/it-was-the-doubt-that-knocked-me-over-mina-the-terrible-doubt-as-to/) [Syrie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syrie-james/) > [Our culture has long mistrusted the body. It's been seen as a confusing blend of God's handiwork and the devil's playground. It is, rather,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-moran/our-culture-has-long-mistrusted-the-body-it-s-been-seen-as-a/) [Victoria Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-moran/) > [Mine eyes Were not in fault, for she was beautiful; Mine ears, that heard her flattery; nor my heart, That thought her like her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/mine-eyes-were-not-in-fault-for-she-was-beautiful-mine-ears-that/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“But then we did not think of ourselves as poor. We did not accept it. we thought we were superior people and other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/but-then-we-did-not-think-of-ourselves-as-poor-we-did-not-accept-it/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/the-truth-is-that-all-men-having-power-ought-to-be-mistrusted/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [“...maybe I am just your priest - or a churl - perhaps you mistrust me the way the medievals mistrusted monks...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/maybe-i-am-just-your-priest-or-a-churl-perhaps-you-mistrust-me-the/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [Welfare is hated by those who administer it, mistrusted by those who pay for it and held in contempt by those who receive it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-c-goldmark-jr/welfare-is-hated-by-those-who-administer-it-mistrusted-by-those-who/) [Peter C Goldmark Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-c-goldmark-jr/) > [The commercial class has always mistrusted verbal brilliancy and wit, deeming such qualities, perhaps with some justice, frivolous and unprofitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-commercial-class-has-always-mistrusted-verbal-brilliancy-and-wit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Flatterers should be mistrusted, especially when they praise the dead. To seek a place in society is self-serving, but to seek one in history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bauvard/flatterers-should-be-mistrusted-especially-when-they-praise-the-dead/) [Bauvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bauvard/) > [In a world that operates largely at random, coincidences are to be expected, but any one of them must always be mistrusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-stout/in-a-world-that-operates-largely-at-random-coincidences-are-to-be/) [Rex Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-stout/) > [To be forgotten is to sleep in peace with the undisturbed myriads, no longer subject to the chills and heats, the blasts, the sleet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/to-be-forgotten-is-to-sleep-in-peace-with-the-undisturbed-myriads-no/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [“There is a very great difference — is there not? — between the temporal and the eternal judgments, a very great difference between a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-collier/there-is-a-very-great-difference-is-there-not-between-the-temporal/) [Price Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-collier/) > [A man's reputation is the opinion people have of him; his character is what he really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-miner/a-man-s-reputation-is-the-opinion-people-have-of-him-his-character-is/) [Jack Miner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-miner/) ## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/gratitude-is-not-only-the-greatest-of-virtues-but-the-parent-of-all/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Things sacred should not only be touched with the hands, but unviolated in thought. \[Lat., Res sacros non modo manibus attingi, sed ne cogitatione…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/things-sacred-should-not-only-be-touched-with-the-hands-but/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Grief is not in the nature of things, but in opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/grief-is-not-in-the-nature-of-things-but-in-opinion/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum. (Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. One knows how numerous this clique is, how they stick together and what power they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-jews-belong-to-a-dark-and-repulsive-force-one-knows-how-numerous/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Nature has planted in our minds an insatiable longing to see the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nature-has-planted-in-our-minds-an-insatiable-longing-to-see-the-truth/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Explore all 1,068 Marcus Tullius Cicero quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## More Clever quotes > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“There was once an old but clever donkey, who never liked the sting of any bee, Nor for all the Slung mud, did he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyavrat-thareja/there-was-once-an-old-but-clever-donkey-who-never-liked-the-sting-of/) [Priyavrat Thareja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyavrat-thareja/) > [ There was another reason \[she\] took her books whenever they went away. They were her home when she was somewhere strange. They were familiar… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/there-was-another-reason-she-took-her-books-whenever-they-went-away/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [“The cactus thrives in the desert while the fern thrives in the wetland. The fool will try to plant them in the same flowerbox.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/the-cactus-thrives-in-the-desert-while-the-fern-thrives-in-the/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [Good people are found not changed. Recently I read a headline that said, 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-recently-i-read-a-headline-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [If she is stupid enough to let you go, you're clever enough not to look back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-she-is-stupid-enough-to-let-you-go-you-re-clever-enough-not-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Need to go to the pharmacy, because I'm so sick!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-matthews/need-to-go-to-the-pharmacy-because-i-m-so-sick/) [Tasha Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-matthews/) > [My valour is certainly going! - it is sneaking off! - I feel it oozing out as it were at the palms of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/my-valour-is-certainly-going-it-is-sneaking-off-i-feel-it-oozing-out/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > ['I Love You' fails to sum up all the memories, smiles, laughs, trials, and tribulations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/i-love-you-fails-to-sum-up-all-the-memories-smiles-laughs-trials-and/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [People may say that what I do is very clever, but it's not really at all. It's not Swift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-bremner/people-may-say-that-what-i-do-is-very-clever-but-it-s-not-really-at/) [Rory Bremner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-bremner/) > [I do remember what I said. The promise. To protect her. If I'd done that ... even if I didn't make it, you wouldn't've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-do-remember-what-i-said-the-promise-to-protect-her-if-i-d-done-that/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [“Regrets are like mistresses," he informed her. "I ..." Her hand dropped from the handle. "What?" "Good men don't have them." She blinked at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alissa-johnson/regrets-are-like-mistresses-he-informed-her-i-her-hand-dropped-from/) [Alissa Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alissa-johnson/) > [I love clever lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walker-hayes/i-love-clever-lyrics/) [Walker Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walker-hayes/) [Browse all 2,116 Clever quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clever/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Take from a man his reputation for probity, and the more shrewd and clever he is, the more hated and mistrusted he becomes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Tullius Cicero" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/take-from-a-man-his-reputation-for-probity-and-the-more-shrewd-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clever" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/take-from-a-man-his-reputation-for-probity-and-the-more-shrewd-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_clever_take-from-a-man-his-reputation-for-probi_1701512.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_clever_take-from-a-man-his-reputation-for-probi_1701512.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca0/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_clever_take-from-a-man-his-reputation-for-probi_1701512.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Take from a man his reputation for probity, and the more shrewd and clever he is, the more hated and…” — Marcus Tullius Cicero", "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": "Marcus Tullius Cicero", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Take from a man his reputation...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/take-from-a-man-his-reputation-for-probity-and-the-more-shrewd-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/take-from-a-man-his-reputation-for-probity-and-the-more-shrewd-and/#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 } } ] } ```