men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues we write in water

The phrase "men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues we write in water" is attributed to William Shakespeare in his play Henry VIII. It highlights the tendency for people to remember and be more strongly affected by the negative actions or behavior of others ("evil manners"), which are compared to being engraved in durable brass. Conversely, the positive traits or actions ("virtues") of individuals are often ephemeral and easily forgotten, symbolized by writing them in perishable water. In essence, the phrase suggests that people tend to remember and focus on the faults and flaws of others while easily forgetting or overlooking their virtues.