Better be ill spoken of by one before all than by all before one

Better be ill spoken of by one before all than by all before one

The proverb "Better be ill spoken of by one before all than by all before one" emphasizes the importance of reputation and perception in society. It suggests that it is preferable to have a negative reputation among a few individuals rather than having a negative reputation among everyone. This proverb highlights the idea that having a bad reputation among a small group of people may be easier to manage or overcome compared to having a bad reputation among a larger group or community.