How and Why You Need a Good Name
- Category: Articles
- Date 28-03-2025
- 37 views
According to the scripture, “… a good name is more desirable than great riches…” (Proverbs 22:1). A good name is the positive opinion that people have about someone. It is a result of doing what others believe is right or behaving in ways that society perceives as decorous, acceptable and dignified.
A good name comes from a person’s conformity to the cherished values and expectations of society, which sets standards of behaviour and expects individuals to uphold these ideals. The social standards that communities set are intended for the good of everyone and form the basis for earning a good name. By nature, everyone desires to be on good terms with other people, and desires to be regarded as a good person. In return, one expects others to be fair and reasonable to him.
When someone is facing problems or suffering, the natural reaction from others is sympathy. People who demonstrate kindness may not be associated with the person or group that is distressed. The needy people might even be strangers. It is an inborn passion to share other people’s griefs. Humans are innately decent, and every person is capable of being and doing good. This explains why it is common for people to provide gifts and other favours to those in need such as the sick, wounded, abandoned, beggars, and refugees.
According to Socrates, every person is born with a desire to be good, just and moral. Everyone wants and works for a good name. Wrong doing is not a natural element; it is involuntary. He believed that, in normal circumstances, people can be educated to choose and do what is good.
By Venansio Ahabwe
Author, Teacher, Social Scientist.