Appropriate Quote by Emile Durkheim
“Too cheerful a morality is a loose morality; it is appropriate only to decadent peoples and is found only among them.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Rules of Sociological Method, 1895
Excessive optimism in moral standards signals societal decay and is typical of declining cultures.
In simple terms: Overly happy morals show a weak society.
Key Takeaway
Beware moral laxity.
Themes
morality
societal health
decadence
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- political analysis
- cultural critique
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
sociology
ethical relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does moral strictness affect social stability?
- When is leniency beneficial?
A Different Perspective
Such optimism may ignore necessary constraints.
![“It's sad if people think that's (homemaking) a dull existance, [but] you can't just buy an apartment and furnish it and walk away. It's the flowers you choose, the music you play, the smile you have waiting. I want it to be gay and cheerful, a haven in this troubled world. I don't want my husband…” quote by Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/516/audrey-hepburn-1706_apartment_it-s-sad-if-people-think-that-s-homemaki_83485.jpg)
![“[T]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres.” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/be6/arthur-schopenhauer-226_addresses_t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between_32897.jpg)
