--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like all good reputations... every effect…" description: "\"“Like all good reputations... every effect that one produces gives one an enemy. To be popular one must be a mediocrity.”\" — Oscar Wilde" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f8/oscar-wilde-16_reputations_like-all-good-reputations-every-effect-t_2514994.jpg" --- # Like all good reputations... every effect that one… ![“Like all good reputations... every effect that one produces gives one an enemy. To be popular one must be a mediocrity.” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f8/oscar-wilde-16_reputations_like-all-good-reputations-every-effect-t_2514994.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f8/oscar-wilde-16_reputations_like-all-good-reputations-every-effect-t_2514994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f8/oscar-wilde-16_reputations_like-all-good-reputations-every-effect-t_2514994.jpg) > ““Like all good reputations... every effect that one produces gives one an enemy. To be popular one must be a mediocrity.”” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reputation requires mediocrity; striving for popularity often leads to compromising excellence. **In simple terms:** Popularity demands mediocrity, harming excellence. Key Takeaway Balance authenticity with social acceptance. Themes reputation popularity excellence mediocrity Mood reflective philosophical Type literary wisdom When to use this quote - career advancement - social networking - public speaking - leadership Key Concepts social perception self‑identity authenticity Questions to Reflect On - Is it worth sacrificing excellence for popularity? - How can one stay true while being accepted? A Different Perspective Being liked may force mediocrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enemy Popular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-popular-1193152/) [Good Reputations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-reputations-1193153/) [Popular Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popular-mediocrity-1193154/) [Reputations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputations/) [Reputations Effect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputations-effect-1193155/) ## Related quotes > [Every effect that one produces gives one an enemy. To be popular one must be a mediocrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/every-effect-that-one-produces-gives-one-an-enemy-to-be-popular-one/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Reputation Reputation is a form of stored value users can literally take to the bank. On online marketplaces such as eBay, TaskRabbit, Yelp, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nir-eyal/reputation-reputation-is-a-form-of-stored-value-users-can-literally/) [Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nir-eyal/) > [To be popular one must be a mediocrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-be-popular-one-must-be-a-mediocrity/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [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/) > [I don't believe in destroying GOOD mysteries or adding to BAD reputations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-balance/i-don-t-believe-in-destroying-good-mysteries-or-adding-to-bad/) [John Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-balance/) > [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 Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“If these elements of beauty are real, the whole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenly we find that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-these-elements-of-beauty-are-real-the-whole-thing-simply-appeals/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-love-one-s-self-is-the-beginning-of-a-life-long-romance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men always want to be a womans first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a mans last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-always-want-to-be-a-womans-first-love-women-have-a-more-subtle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Explore all 3,343 Oscar Wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More Reputations quotes > [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/) > [I don't believe in destroying GOOD mysteries or adding to BAD reputations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-balance/i-don-t-believe-in-destroying-good-mysteries-or-adding-to-bad/) [John Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-balance/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Reputations are shaped not by facts but by prejudices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/reputations-are-shaped-not-by-facts-but-by-prejudices/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [“You have a reputation. If enough people tell stories about you, we call it fame; but even if it’s just your neighbors, the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-a-reputation-if-enough-people-tell-stories-about-you-we-call/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 56 Reputations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Like all good reputations... every effect that one produces gives one an enemy. 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