--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Public esteem is the recompense of honest…" description: "\"Public esteem is the recompense of honest men.\" — Napoleon Bonaparte" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/napoleon-bonaparte-206_esteem_public-esteem-is-the-recompense-of-hones_1671741.jpg" --- # Public esteem is the recompense of honest men. ![“Public esteem is the recompense of honest men.” quote by Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/napoleon-bonaparte-206_esteem_public-esteem-is-the-recompense-of-hones_1671741.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/napoleon-bonaparte-206_esteem_public-esteem-is-the-recompense-of-hones_1671741.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/napoleon-bonaparte-206_esteem_public-esteem-is-the-recompense-of-hones_1671741.jpg) > “Public esteem is the recompense of honest men.” [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal respect is earned by integrity; honest people receive genuine admiration. **In simple terms:** Honest men gain esteem. Key Takeaway Live with integrity to earn respect. Themes ethics leadership reputation Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - political leadership - community service - business ethics Key Concepts moral philosophy social capital Questions to Reflect On - Can honesty be overlooked in some cultures? - What other traits complement honesty for esteem? A Different Perspective Honesty alone may not guarantee fame. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Recompense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recompense/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [I like honest men of all colors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/i-like-honest-men-of-all-colors/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The sincere teachers of their youth should be met, not with an intention to dictate to them, but to give additional force to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lancaster/the-sincere-teachers-of-their-youth-should-be-met-not-with-an/) [Joseph Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lancaster/) > [We acquire the love of people who, being in our proximity, are presumed to know us; and we receive reputation or celebrity, from such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-augustus-henry-sala/we-acquire-the-love-of-people-who-being-in-our-proximity-are-presumed/) [George Augustus Henry Sala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-augustus-henry-sala/) > [Virtue is everywhere that which is thought praiseworthy; and nothing else but that which has the allowance of public esteem is called virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/virtue-is-everywhere-that-which-is-thought-praiseworthy-and-nothing/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Human nature is so weak that the honest men who have no religion make me fret with their perilous virtue, as rope-dancers with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-de-gaston-chevalier-de-levis/human-nature-is-so-weak-that-the-honest-men-who-have-no-religion-make/) [Francis de Gaston, Chevalier de Levis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-de-gaston-chevalier-de-levis/) > [It is criminal negligence to leave suckers lying around to tempt honest men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-mizner/it-is-criminal-negligence-to-leave-suckers-lying-around-to-tempt/) [Wilson Mizner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-mizner/) > [How many honest men do you know? Take the sinners away from the saints, you're lucky to end up with Abraham Lincoln.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/how-many-honest-men-do-you-know-take-the-sinners-away-from-the-saints/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [Of the various executive abilities, no one excited more anxious concern than that of placing the interests of our fellow-citizens in the hands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/of-the-various-executive-abilities-no-one-excited-more-anxious/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There are three difficulties in authorship; to write any thing worth the publishing — to find honest men to publish it — and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/there-are-three-difficulties-in-authorship-to-write-any-thing-worth/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [The time has come for honest men to denounce false teachers and attack false gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-burbank/the-time-has-come-for-honest-men-to-denounce-false-teachers-and/) [Luther Burbank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-burbank/) > [Honest men are the gentlemen of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/honest-men-are-the-gentlemen-of-nature/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Time is the only test of honest men, one day is space enough to know a rogue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/time-is-the-only-test-of-honest-men-one-day-is-space-enough-to-know-a/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Do what you believe to be right, and ever hold it for a maxim, that if the skies fall through your doing right, honest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/do-what-you-believe-to-be-right-and-ever-hold-it-for-a-maxim-that-if/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [It is curious - but you cannot make a revolution without honest men. ... Every revolution has had its honest men. They are soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/it-is-curious-but-you-cannot-make-a-revolution-without-honest-men/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [Tobacco is the passion of honest men and he who lives without tobacco is not worthy of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/tobacco-is-the-passion-of-honest-men-and-he-who-lives-without-tobacco/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) ## More by Napoleon Bonaparte > [He is almost a statesman. He lies well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/he-is-almost-a-statesman-he-lies-well/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Men grow old quickly on the battlefield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/men-grow-old-quickly-on-the-battlefield/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The only victories which leave no regret are those which are gained over ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-only-victories-which-leave-no-regret-are-those-which-are-gained/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/when-a-government-is-dependent-upon-bankers-for-money-they-and-not/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [In the eyes of empire builders men are not men but instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/in-the-eyes-of-empire-builders-men-are-not-men-but-instruments/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [All becomes easy when we follow the current of opinion; it is the ruler of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/all-becomes-easy-when-we-follow-the-current-of-opinion-it-is-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The bullet that will kill me is not yet cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-bullet-that-will-kill-me-is-not-yet-cast/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [A great reputation is a great noise, the more there is of it, and the further does it swell. Land, monuments, Nations, all fall,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-great-reputation-is-a-great-noise-the-more-there-is-of-it-and-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Character is victory organized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/character-is-victory-organized/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Republican despotism is more fertile in acts of tyranny, because everyone has a hand in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/republican-despotism-is-more-fertile-in-acts-of-tyranny-because/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [My decision to destroy the authority of the blacks in Saint Domingue (Haiti) is not so much based on considerations of commerce and money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/my-decision-to-destroy-the-authority-of-the-blacks-in-saint-domingue/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The army is the true nobility of our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-army-is-the-true-nobility-of-our-country/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [There is only one favorable moment in war; talent consists in knowing how to seize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/there-is-only-one-favorable-moment-in-war-talent-consists-in-knowing/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [A great reserve and severity of manners are necessary for the command of those who are older than ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-great-reserve-and-severity-of-manners-are-necessary-for-the-command/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) [Explore all 914 Napoleon Bonaparte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) ## More Esteem quotes > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [Nothing is better for self-esteem than survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-gellhorn/nothing-is-better-for-self-esteem-than-survival/) [Martha Gellhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-gellhorn/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [So I went to a club the other day, which is timely because my self esteem had been hovering right around 'normal' and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/so-i-went-to-a-club-the-other-day-which-is-timely-because-my-self/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [You would not exist if you did not have something to bring to the table of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/you-would-not-exist-if-you-did-not-have-something-to-bring-to-the/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Don't worry so much about your self-esteem. Worry more about your character. Integrity is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/don-t-worry-so-much-about-your-self-esteem-worry-more-about-your/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [Spina bifida affects every single aspect of your life, from your child's self-esteem to your ability to sleep at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-ari-parker/spina-bifida-affects-every-single-aspect-of-your-life-from-your-child/) [Nicole Ari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-ari-parker/) > [You never exist quite so much as when you are not thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/you-never-exist-quite-so-much-as-when-you-are-not-thinking/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Never let the opinion of another affect your opinion of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-mummert/never-let-the-opinion-of-another-affect-your-opinion-of-yourself/) [Teresa Mummert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-mummert/) > [You'd be surprised how addicting high self-esteem is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/you-d-be-surprised-how-addicting-high-self-esteem-is/) [Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) > [The only thing I pay attention to with free throws is what a guy does in the final four minutes of a game. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calipari/the-only-thing-i-pay-attention-to-with-free-throws-is-what-a-guy-does/) [John Calipari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calipari/) > [When one is a stranger to oneself then one is estranged from others too. If one is out of touch with oneself, then one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/when-one-is-a-stranger-to-oneself-then-one-is-estranged-from-others/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) [Browse all 1,681 Esteem quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Public esteem is the recompense of honest men.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Napoleon Bonaparte" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/public-esteem-is-the-recompense-of-honest-men/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Esteem" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/public-esteem-is-the-recompense-of-honest-men/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/napoleon-bonaparte-206_esteem_public-esteem-is-the-recompense-of-hones_1671741.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/napoleon-bonaparte-206_esteem_public-esteem-is-the-recompense-of-hones_1671741.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5df/napoleon-bonaparte-206_esteem_public-esteem-is-the-recompense-of-hones_1671741.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Public esteem is the recompense of honest men.” — Napoleon Bonaparte", "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": "Napoleon Bonaparte", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Public esteem is the recompense of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/public-esteem-is-the-recompense-of-honest-men/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/public-esteem-is-the-recompense-of-honest-men/#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 } } ] } ```