--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The nation's morals are like its teeth…" description: "\"The nation's morals are like its teeth: the more decayed they are the more it hurts to touch them.\" — George Bernard Shaw" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/george-bernard-shaw-68_character_the-nation-s-morals-are-like-its-teeth-t_980695.png" --- # The nation's morals are like its teeth: the more decayed… ![“The nation's morals are like its teeth: the more decayed they are the more it hurts to touch them.” quote by George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/george-bernard-shaw-68_character_the-nation-s-morals-are-like-its-teeth-t_980695.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/george-bernard-shaw-68_character_the-nation-s-morals-are-like-its-teeth-t_980695.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/george-bernard-shaw-68_character_the-nation-s-morals-are-like-its-teeth-t_980695.png) > “The nation's morals are like its teeth: the more decayed they are the more it hurts to touch them.” [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moral decay in society causes pain, similar to how rotten teeth hurt when touched. **In simple terms:** Corrupt morals cause societal pain. Key Takeaway Promote ethical standards. Themes ethics societal health morality critique Mood critical thought‑provoking Type philosophical satirical When to use this quote - political discourse - education reform - community building Key Concepts social decay collective responsibility public health Questions to Reflect On - How can societies heal moral decay? - What role does individual responsibility play? A Different Perspective Moral judgments can be subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [The nations morals are like its teeth, the more decayed they are the more it hurts to touch them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-nations-morals-are-like-its-teeth-the-more-decayed-they-are-the/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“my mouth was shut for so long that my teeth decayed. you complained that my lips were always dry and chapped; you kissed me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mecca-amirah-jackson/my-mouth-was-shut-for-so-long-that-my-teeth-decayed-you-complained/) Mecca-Amirah Jackson > [In the mouth of Society are many diseased teeth, decayed to the bones of the jaws. 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