--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was the old New York way...the way…" description: "\"It was the old New York way...the way people who dreaded scandal more than disease, who placed decency above courage, and who considered that nothing w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/edith-wharton-512_courage_it-was-the-old-new-york-way-the-way-peop_1468664.png" --- # It was the old New York way...the way people who dreaded… ![“It was the old New York way...the way people who dreaded scandal more than disease, who placed decency above courage, and who considered that nothing was more ill-bred than "scenes", except those who gave rise to them.” quote by Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/edith-wharton-512_courage_it-was-the-old-new-york-way-the-way-peop_1468664.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/edith-wharton-512_courage_it-was-the-old-new-york-way-the-way-peop_1468664.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b2/edith-wharton-512_courage_it-was-the-old-new-york-way-the-way-peop_1468664.png) > “It was the old New York way...the way people who dreaded scandal more than disease, who placed decency above courage, and who considered that nothing was more ill-bred than "scenes", except those who gave rise to them.” [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society values reputation and decorum over courage, condemning scandal more than disease. **In simple terms:** Society fears scandal more than illness. Key Takeaway Balance integrity with courage, not just appearances. Themes society reputation courage scandal morality Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - social gatherings - political circles - family events Key Concepts social norms ethical dilemmas public perception Questions to Reflect On - What costs does prioritizing decorum impose? - How can we foster courage over appearance? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on reputation can stifle truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Decency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decency/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Scandal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scandal/) ## Related quotes > [“It was the old New York way of taking life “without effusion of blood”: the way of people who dreaded scandal more than disease,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/it-was-the-old-new-york-way-of-taking-life-without-effusion-of-blood/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [If men pride themselves on the fact that Jesus Christ was born of their sex, the answer is that this was necessary for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-de-gournay/if-men-pride-themselves-on-the-fact-that-jesus-christ-was-born-of/) [Marie de Gournay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-de-gournay/) > [Out of all the fighters that I have developed, clothed, financed, Gerrie Coetzee is the only one who had the decency to say 'thanks'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-king/out-of-all-the-fighters-that-i-have-developed-clothed-financed-gerrie/) [Don King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-king/) > [I am not a member of the chamber of commerce for show business, believe me, but there are some really good people in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-fuller/i-am-not-a-member-of-the-chamber-of-commerce-for-show-business/) [Kurt Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-fuller/) > [“Almost everything you think is sacred, good and decent, is a lie and an all-out assault against truth and decency.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/almost-everything-you-think-is-sacred-good-and-decent-is-a-lie-and-an/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“No woman deserves to be treated as little more than your toy. 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