Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Social status or manners once earned are seen as permanent.
In plain terms
Once a gentleman, always a gentleman.
What can you take from it?
Perceived status sticks once assigned.

Where it applies

  • discussing social mobility
  • judging someone by past
  • assessing reputation

Putting it to work

  • challenge fixed assumptions about people
  • recognize reputation bias

Questions to consider

  • Can someone truly change their status?
  • Does past always define present?

Another view

It ignores personal growth or change.

More from Charles Dickens

  1. 'Papa is a preferable mode of address,' observed Mrs General. 'Father is rather vulgar, my dear. The word Papa, besides, gives a pretty form to the lips. Papa,…

    Permalink to quote #118
  2. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of i…

    Permalink to quote #120
  3. I revere the memory of Mr. F. as an estimable man and most indulgent husband, only necessary to mention Asparagus and it appeared or to hint at any little deli…

    Permalink to quote #117

Related quotes

  1. A self-made man may prefer a self-made name.

    Learned HandLearned Hand quote #33
  2. At present there is no distinction among the upper ten thousand of the city.

    Nathaniel Parker WillisNathaniel Parker Willis quote #1
  3. I, born in Essex thirty-four Essentially sexual years ago, Stepped down, looked around, and saw I had been cast a little low In the social register For the fri…

    George BarkerGeorge Barker quote #1