NOT WHAT YOU APPEAR TO BE, WHAT YOU ARE

"It is fortunate to be of high birth, but it is no less so to be of such character that people do not care to know whether you are or are not."

Jean de la Bruyère (1645-1696) French satiric moralist.

"High birth" isn't what it was when Monsieur de la Bruyère first spoke these words, however the underlying thought still applies.

More important than your reputation, education, money or anything else you can name is your character.

Without that your value to others is greatly diminished.