Candor Quote by Erving Goffman
““The more there is about the individual that deviates in an undesirable direction from what might have been expected to be true of him, the more he is obliged to volunteer information about himself, even though the cost to him of candor may have increased proportionally.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Stigma, 1963
People reveal personal flaws to manage others' expectations, even at personal cost.
In simple terms: Self‑disclosure to meet social norms.
Key Takeaway
Balance honesty with self‑protection.
Themes
identity
social norms
self‑disclosure
Mood
reflective
cautious
Type
sociological
psychological
When to use this quote
- job interviews
- online dating
- therapy sessions
Key Concepts
impression management
stigma
authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- When is candor beneficial?
- How to protect privacy while being authentic?
A Different Perspective
Risk of vulnerability exploitation.
![“[H]e who spends more than he earns is sowing the winds of needless self indulgence from which he is sure to reap the whirlwinds of trouble and humiliation.” quote by George S. Clason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/21f/george-s-clason-13423_humiliation_h-e-who-spends-more-than-he-earns-is-sow_302594.jpg)
![“I concluded all the same from this first evening that his [Morel's] must be a vile nature, that he would not shrink from any act of servility if the need arose, and was incapable of gratitude. In which he resembled the majority of mankind.” quote by Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d80/marcel-proust-114_gratitude_i-concluded-all-the-same-from-this-first_3206472.jpg)
