A good name is better than riches.

Meaning: It is better to have a good reputation than to be wealthy.

Choice of Words: Good means having positive qualities or characteristics. Name refers to a word or phrase used to identify a person, place, or thing. Is indicates a state of being or existence. Better means more desirable or advantageous. Than is used to compare two things. Riches refers to wealth or material possessions. Together, the sentence means that a positive reputation is more valuable than wealth.

Alternative Expressions

A good name is more valuable than wealth.

Meaning: This means the same as the first example.

Choice of Words: Name is what people call you. Good means something that is liked or approved of. More valuable means worth more than something else. Wealth are great riches or possessions. When you put them together, "A good name is more valuable than wealth" means that having a good reputation and being respected is worth more than having a lot of money or material things.

It's better to have a good name than to be rich.

Meaning: This means the same as the first two examples.

Choice of Words: It's better means it is more preferable or desirable. To have means to possess or own something. A good name means a good reputation or being respected. Than means in comparison to something else. To be rich means to have a lot of money or material things. When you put them together, "It's better to have a good name than to be rich" means that it is more important to be known for being a good person than to have a lot of money or material things.

Related Expressions