A mafioso’s reputation can rest on myth rather than actual violence.

Evidence

Tommaso Buscetta candidly reveals the degree to which his own reputation was a fluke: “Unfortunately, my strong and proud personality created the myth of… a violent and merciless mafia boss, which does not correspond to reality. What is even more incredible is that that myth was influencing not only the press and the police but the underworld itself… In jail they looked at me with awe and respect, increased by my reserve, which was mistaken, in my strange world, for mafioso power” (TB: II, 96). — Diego Gambetta, The Sicilian Mafia The Business of…, 115

Categorization

• SHARE: The Buscetta quote is a perfect anecdote for anyone interested in reputation theory or criminal sociology.