I know someone who has a good reputation in his industry. He's well-known by many and because of his years of experience in the industry he is in, the reputation he has is one that has him on the board of one organization and he gets sent many gifts at Christmastime and many people/companies give him special accommodations. One might look at this reputation he has and equate it to a good character. And one would be wrong.
Character and reputation are not the same. This man's character is lacking in kindness, grace, diversity, equality, and general humanity. He has crafted a reputation based on lies - things that he most likely wishes were true about himself and knows are not. See, he has a chance to improve his character - to perhaps bring it into alignment with his reputation but his lack of character is seen even more clearly in the fact that he doesn't want to improve, he believes people should adjust to him and cater to him.
When it comes to the end of his life reputation won't keep him company, only character will. I find that to be incredibly sad. When I come to the end of my life I don't want a reputation just character.
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