--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a man's character is to be abused, say…" description: "\"If a man's character is to be abused, say what you will, there's nobody like a relative to do the business.\" — William Makepeace Thackeray" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_abused_if-a-man-s-character-is-to-be-abused-say_2705455.jpg" --- # If a man's character is to be abused, say what you will… ![“If a man's character is to be abused, say what you will, there's nobody like a relative to do the business.” quote by William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_abused_if-a-man-s-character-is-to-be-abused-say_2705455.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_abused_if-a-man-s-character-is-to-be-abused-say_2705455.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/william-makepeace-thackeray-74_abused_if-a-man-s-character-is-to-be-abused-say_2705455.jpg) > “If a man's character is to be abused, say what you will, there's nobody like a relative to do the business.” [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When a person's reputation is vulnerable, family members often exploit it for personal gain. **In simple terms:** Relatives may misuse a weak character. Key Takeaway Beware of family exploitation. Themes trust family exploitation Mood cautious reflective Type advice observational When to use this quote - inheritance disputes - business negotiations - personal relationships Key Concepts reputation power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect your reputation within family? - When is family loyalty justified? A Different Perspective Family ties can also provide support, not just harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Man'S Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-s-character/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [If a man's character is to be abused there's nobody like a relative to do the business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/if-a-man-s-character-is-to-be-abused-there-s-nobody-like-a-relative/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“If a man’s character is to be abused, say what you will, there’s nobody like a relative to do the business. —WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-ginder/if-a-man-s-character-is-to-be-abused-say-what-you-will-there-s-nobody-2/) [Grant Ginder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-ginder/) > [Man's character is the product of his premises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/man-s-character-is-the-product-of-his-premises/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Everyone has the obligation to ponder well his own specific traits of character. 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An honorable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/an-honorable-man-or-woman-is-one-who-is-truthful-free-from-deceit/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power. —ABRAHAM LINCOLN As”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nearly-all-men-can-stand-adversity-but-if-you-want-to-test-a-man-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A man's character is only formed after the impressions of childhood and early youth have become blended with the indefinable and hidden influences both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikl-s-b-nffy/a-man-s-character-is-only-formed-after-the-impressions-of-childhood/) [Miklós Bánffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikl-s-b-nffy/) > [Judge a man's character by what he finds ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/judge-a-man-s-character-by-what-he-finds-ridiculous/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [To have a right estimate of a man's character, we must see him in misfortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/to-have-a-right-estimate-of-a-man-s-character-we-must-see-him-in/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“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 > [It is not true that drink changes a man's character. 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The marketing spills over the border, and people are persuaded to eat food that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-patel/one-of-the-most-abused-country-on-earth-is-mexico-the-marketing/) [Raj Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-patel/) > [“Too many cases thrown out of court, too much pop-psycho crap, satanic bullshit... if you FEEL you've been abused, you HAVE been!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kellerman/too-many-cases-thrown-out-of-court-too-much-pop-psycho-crap-satanic/) [Jonathan Kellerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kellerman/) > [“Rather than being incensed by the nature of the bruise, maybe we should be inspired by the possibilities in the bruise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/rather-than-being-incensed-by-the-nature-of-the-bruise-maybe-we/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“I used to teach at an abused children's home. 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