The collection / 9 fragments
Examining how public regard is built, maintained, damaged and sometimes mistaken. These editorial selections distinguish an enduring label from current evidence; praise or an accusation does not establish a person’s whole character. Connections follow agent-reviewed meanings, rather than source word matching. Reviewed editorial meanings may also connect entries to this topic; those assignments are labelled separately from word matching.
Meaning: Damaged trust or reputation may be harder to repair than to preserve. The broken glass pictures that fragility, warning about consequences without claiming that one mistake permanently destroys someone’s credibility or makes rebuilding trust impossible.
Meaning: A damaged reputation may outlast the original injury or event. The saying contrasts recovery with the persistence of a bad name, while its absolute wording should not deny repair, presume blame or suggest that a reputation can never change.
Meaning: A well-grounded reputation can retain value when it is not being publicly displayed. The lustre-in-darkness image praises lasting character, without treating reputation as infallible evidence or guaranteeing that good conduct will always be recognised.
Meaning: Past recognition may fade unless it is supported by continuing substance or renewed attention. Feeding old praise gives reputation the needs of a living thing.
Meaning: A reputation may take sustained conduct to establish and can be damaged quickly. The saying draws attention to the uneven pace of earning trust and losing it, without treating every accusation as proof.
Meaning: Visible symbols of status can differ from the quality of the person holding it. Judge character and conduct rather than assuming that splendid equipment proves merit.
Meaning: A changed habit may not immediately change a settled reputation. Consistent evidence over time can matter more than a single effort to reverse others’ expectations.
Meaning: Reputation can bring serious consequences before conduct is fairly examined. Separate what is repeated about a person from evidence about what they actually did.
Meaning: Praise offered by someone who benefits from a sale deserves scrutiny. The seller asks the basket to advertise itself, exposing an interest behind the favourable presentation rather than proving the object worthless.