proverb · Source-linked selection
Take away my good name, and take away my life.
Take away my good name, and take away my life.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Reputation can feel inseparable from a person’s place in the world. Losing a good name is described with the intensity of losing life itself.
What the words are saying
The statement makes the importance of reputation emotionally vivid. Someone whose standing is damaged may fear losing trust, relationships or the chance to act meaningfully among others. The saying can convey that distress without making reputation a literal condition of a life’s value. Accusations still need fair consideration, and a person can rebuild trust or find support after a damaging event. A careful use recognises the stakes while refusing the idea that disgrace should end hope or justify harm.
Everyday example
Someone asks others to consider an allegation fairly because an unfounded rumour is affecting relationships they value.
When to use it
Use it to acknowledge the serious personal impact of a threatened reputation.
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What it does not mean
A damaged reputation does not make a life worthless or justify self-harm or retaliation.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 1132 · Name
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English