Skip to content

Morals are a matter of private agreement; decency is of…

“Morals are a matter of private agreement; decency is of public concern.” quote by Marguerite Yourcenar
Download Open image
“Morals are a matter of private agreement; decency is of public concern.”

Marguerite Yourcenar

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Private morals are personal agreements, while decency concerns the public sphere and shared standards.

In simple terms: Private morals differ from public decency.

Key Takeaway

Balance personal values with societal expectations.

Themes

ethics public good private agreement social contract

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

  • community building
  • policy making
  • interpersonal relations

Key Concepts

moral philosophy civic responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do we reconcile personal beliefs with public norms?
  • When should private morals yield to public decency?
A Different Perspective

Public decency can clash with diverse private morals.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Marguerite Yourcenar

Explore all 112 Marguerite Yourcenar quotes

More Agreement quotes

Browse all 1,138 Agreement quotes