Common decency Quote by Amélie Nothomb
““Honor sometimes means doing something very unwise. Behaving like an idiot is better than dishonor. To this day I blush for having chosen sensible restraint over common decency.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Hectic, 2005
Honor can require foolishness; sometimes acting like an idiot is better than dishonorable restraint.
In simple terms: Honor may demand foolish acts; foolishness can be preferable.
Key Takeaway
Question whether honor outweighs common sense.
Themes
honor
foolishness
integrity
Mood
conflicted
reflective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- political negotiations
- personal relationships
- career choices
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
existentialism
social norms
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it wiser to break honor?
- How does society define honorable behavior?
A Different Perspective
Choosing honor can cause personal regret.
![“[What is honor]—I suspect that if, after reading this book, you were to go and ask the question of your friends and acquaintances, you might experience some difficultly finding someone who could give you, off the cuff, an accurate and adequate definition of honor. Those who do respond will…” quote by Jack Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f2e/jack-whyte-39547_books_what-is-honor-i-suspect-that-if-after-re_2435400.jpg)
![“If I knew what I was thinking [...] I would never have become a writer.” quote by Amélie Nothomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6f1/amelie-nothomb-1581_writer_if-i-knew-what-i-was-thinking-i-would-ne_267765.jpg)
![“Common decency demands that [NCAA athletes] should be paid, but the only way it will happen is the same way workers got paid throughout American history, through a strong union.” quote by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/789/kareem-abdul-jabbar-1909_american-history_common-decency-demands-that-ncaa-athlete_111773.jpg)
