Character is what you stand on when there's nothing else to stand on.
I've never believed in tearing another man's character down unless his own actions did it first. I believe a person's word, integrity, and honor are everything.
When you're finally standing on your own, with no one to speak for you and no one to hide behind, that's when the truth matters most.
There are words that should be easy to say when they're true. If you couldn't say them with your own voice, maybe your conscience already answered the question.
In the end, a man's reputation isn't built by what he says—it's built by what he lives.