Honour Quote by Henrik Ibsen
““Torvald: I would gladly work night and day for you, Nora--bear sorrow and want for your sake. But no man would sacrifice his honour for the one he loves. Nora: But hundreds of thousands of women have done!””
About This Quote
Source Play: A Doll's House, 1879
The quote highlights the tension between personal sacrifice for love and societal expectations of honor, especially for men.
In simple terms: Men are expected to protect honor, not sacrifice it for love.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge gendered expectations.
Themes
gender roles
honor
sacrifice
love
Mood
reflective
critical
empathetic
Type
literary
dialogue
philosophical
When to use this quote
- marriage counseling
- gender equality workshops
- literary analysis
- theatre education
Key Concepts
feminist critique
social norms
Questions to Reflect On
- How do cultural notions of honor affect relationships?
- Can love justify breaking social codes?
A Different Perspective
The statement assumes honor is a male concern, overlooking women's agency.
![“I know that [civilized men] do nothing but boast incessantly of the peace and repose they enjoy in their chains… But when I see [barbarous man] sacrifice pleasures, repose, wealth, power, and life itself for the preservation of this sole good which is so disdained by those who have lost it; when I…” quote by Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b98/jean-jacques-rousseau-418_born-free_i-know-that-civilized-men-do-nothing-but_1084258.jpg)
