“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing”- Abraham Lincoln

Character embellishes the reputation

The character of the individual is understood to be the personal attributes that enable him or her to respond to situations that are both internal and external. On the other hand, a reputation is something one gains from the general public who respond to the actions an individual takes and the inner qualities that an individual has. In asserting that reputation is a shadow seems to indicate that it is a transient thing that relies solely on the perceptions of others. Rather, it is the character that endures beyond the accolades and acknowledgement surrounding achievement. In a broader sense, the character and reputation of people lies at two extremes of a continuum of inner motivations, and both aspects are thought to be essential to living well and purposefully.

The human person develops their character over many stages in their life. Hence, one’s character often takes twists and turns, which is ironic considering it is purported to be the one constant amid a vacillating reputation. The character we build relies in part on the impressions other make on us. Countless parents are concerned, for example, about what role models exist for their children in the community. This concern acknowledges the mosaic-type character we accumulate as we develop. There is generally a point when people being to like whom they feel they have become, and this self-concept becomes a sort of compass point that responds in a particular way in certain situations. To some, this is perceived as maturity. However, it would be underestimating the impact of the rest of our lives to think that the character stagnates. Indeed, to use the metaphor of Lincoln, trees do not always reach a point and then stop growing. Rather, trees branch out form the childhood roots that have been established and thus the character grows. Therefore, whereas our individual characters may well be sourced in a plethora of impressions, these are merely foundations that we develop as we grow.

To extend Lincoln’s metaphor one point further, the more trees branch out, the more their shadow grows. That is to say that the reputation we gain among our peers, colleagues and families grow as we age. Nevertheless, as many actors, rock stars, politicians and leaders in the business community have discovered, this ‘shadow’ can be a shifting asset that gains its ‘length’ as a direct result of the light that is cast upon it. To suggest that reputation is an aspect of humanity that is devoid of substance, however, would ignore how some gain expediency from their reputation to perform good work. Reputation can be an asset. While this may be a extension of a benevolent person’s character, it is useful in itself.

One final point is the fact that both aspects of the human character combine to create a unique individual who, at various times in their life will rely on either aspect to get them through a situation. Therefore, the ‘tree’ and ‘shadow’ exist in a continuum in which is neither is superior to the other.

It is clear therefore that the character of people grows and extends and casts a shadow. This shadow may well shift and vary according to the light cast on it. Nonetheless, these two aspects are useful concepts of the human person.