--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a well-constituted individual refrains…" description: "\"If a well-constituted individual refrains from blazoning aught amiss or calamitous in his family, a nation in the like circumstance may without reproac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/herman-melville-162_candor_if-a-well-constituted-individual-refrain_2719408.jpg" --- # If a well-constituted individual refrains from blazoning… ![“If a well-constituted individual refrains from blazoning aught amiss or calamitous in his family, a nation in the like circumstance may without reproach be equally discreet.” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/herman-melville-162_candor_if-a-well-constituted-individual-refrain_2719408.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/herman-melville-162_candor_if-a-well-constituted-individual-refrain_2719408.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/herman-melville-162_candor_if-a-well-constituted-individual-refrain_2719408.jpg) > “If a well-constituted individual refrains from blazoning aught amiss or calamitous in his family, a nation in the like circumstance may without reproach be equally discreet.” [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Keeping personal problems private can protect family reputation, but collective secrecy may harm society. **In simple terms:** Privacy can protect, but also hide issues. Key Takeaway Balance openness with discretion. Themes privacy family society Mood cautious thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - family gatherings - public discourse - media reporting Key Concepts ethics social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - When should you speak up? - What are the costs of secrecy? A Different Perspective Silence can enable systemic problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Candor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candor/) [Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Constituted Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constituted-individual-2869421/) [Discreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discreet/) [Equally Discreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equally-discreet-2869419/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual Refrains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-refrains-2869422/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Refrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refrain/) [Reproach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reproach/) [Reproach Equally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reproach-equally-2869420/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [The sailor is frankness, the landsman is finesse. Life is not a game with the sailor, demanding the long head--no intricate game of chess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-sailor-is-frankness-the-landsman-is-finesse-life-is-not-a-game-2/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I don't speak about my pain. My pain is something that doesn't need to be purged. I want to prevent people from suffering. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-don-t-speak-about-my-pain-my-pain-is-something-that-doesn-t-need-to/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [I occasionally meet people and they say, 'Oh, I was born to Discreet Music'... They always have very weird eyes, those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-occasionally-meet-people-and-they-say-oh-i-was-born-to-discreet/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [The lips on my upper right bicep are my girlfriend's lips. She has the most amazing lips, and I wanted to carry them around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/the-lips-on-my-upper-right-bicep-are-my-girlfriend-s-lips-she-has-the/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [I hope that increasing numbers of Christians adopt the practice of wearing a cross in a simple and discreet way as a symbol of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-o-brien/i-hope-that-increasing-numbers-of-christians-adopt-the-practice-of/) [Keith O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-o-brien/) > [“photographer had been discreet;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/photographer-had-been-discreet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am rather discreet and shy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-clayderman/i-am-rather-discreet-and-shy/) [Richard Clayderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-clayderman/) > [I have always been discreet in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-golo-kante/i-have-always-been-discreet-in-my-life/) [N'Golo Kante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-golo-kante/) > [You know what I never get with the limo? The tinted windows. Is that so people don't see you? Yeah, what a better way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/you-know-what-i-never-get-with-the-limo-the-tinted-windows-is-that-so/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [I try to learn from both, from features and documentaries. In both cases you have to find a way to make the camera as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-try-to-learn-from-both-from-features-and-documentaries-in-both/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [There is a justice, but we do not always see it. Discreet, smiling, it is there, at one side, a little behind injustice, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/there-is-a-justice-but-we-do-not-always-see-it-discreet-smiling-it-is/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [I’ll be real discreet,” Tank said. As discreet as a six-foot-six, no-neck guy weighing three hundred and fifty pounds, all dressed in black SWAT…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-ll-be-real-discreet-tank-said-as-discreet-as-a-six-foot-six-no-neck/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A person who is discreet in speaking will be useful during the good times and will avoid punishment during the bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/a-person-who-is-discreet-in-speaking-will-be-useful-during-the-good/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [Chaperons, even in their days of glory, were almost never able to enforce morality; what they did was to force immorality to be discreet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/chaperons-even-in-their-days-of-glory-were-almost-never-able-to/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [I was a very sickly child. My parents were immigrants. They were not decorous. They were not discreet. They always thought I was gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-was-a-very-sickly-child-my-parents-were-immigrants-they-were-not/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) ## More by Herman Melville > [“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-man-though-idiotic-and-knowing-not-what-he-does-yet-full-of-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“But were the coming narrative to reveal in any instance, the complete abasement of poor Starbuck's fortitude, scarce might I have the heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-were-the-coming-narrative-to-reveal-in-any-instance-the-complete/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“(On Ralph Waldo Emerson)I love all men who dive. Any fish can swim near the surface, but it takes a great whale to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/on-ralph-waldo-emerson-i-love-all-men-who-dive-any-fish-can-swim-near/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“So seemed it to me, as I stood at her helm, and for long hours silently guided the way of this fire-ship on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/so-seemed-it-to-me-as-i-stood-at-her-helm-and-for-long-hours-silently/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“the only real owner of anything is its commander;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-only-real-owner-of-anything-is-its-commander/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/consider-the-subtleness-of-the-sea-how-its-most-dreaded-creatures/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids and immensities of the universe, and thus stabs us from behind with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/is-it-that-by-its-indefiniteness-it-shadows-forth-the-heartless-voids/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Now, as I before hinted, I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/now-as-i-before-hinted-i-have-no-objection-to-any-person-s-religion/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Only the man who says no is free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/only-the-man-who-says-no-is-free/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Beneath those stars is a universe of gliding monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/beneath-those-stars-is-a-universe-of-gliding-monsters/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Yet this is life. For hardly have we mortals by long toilings extracted from this world's vast bulk its small but valuable sperm; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/yet-this-is-life-for-hardly-have-we-mortals-by-long-toilings/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I never fancied broiling fowls; - though once broiled, judiciously buttered, and judgmatically salted and peppered, there is no one who will speak more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-never-fancied-broiling-fowls-though-once-broiled-judiciously/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/war-should-be-carried-on-like-a-monsoon-one-changeless-determination/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Genius is full of trash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/genius-is-full-of-trash/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) [Explore all 1,009 Herman Melville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## More Candor quotes > [Take lack of candor. ... I'm not talking about boldface lying, but a tendency to withhold information. That behavior is far more common, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/take-lack-of-candor-i-m-not-talking-about-boldface-lying-but-a/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [I have to declare in all candor that no one interested in being published in our time can afford to be so naive as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-curtis/i-have-to-declare-in-all-candor-that-no-one-interested-in-being/) [Richard Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-curtis/) > [“I struggle to keep my hard, expressionless mask in place. The doctor's most powerful weapon has always been his particular brand of brutal honesty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristin-terrill/i-struggle-to-keep-my-hard-expressionless-mask-in-place-the-doctor-s/) [Cristin Terrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristin-terrill/) > [Truth is a risky proposition. It's the nature of mediocre human beings to believe that lies are necessary, that they serve a purpose, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/truth-is-a-risky-proposition-it-s-the-nature-of-mediocre-human-beings/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [Honesty is always the best policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/honesty-is-always-the-best-policy/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [And he’s right to say that every faction loses something when it gains a virtue: the Dauntless, brave but cruel; the Erudite, intelligent but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/and-he-s-right-to-say-that-every-faction-loses-something-when-it/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Jennifer Fulwiler's story of finding God when you aren't looking for Him is a universal tale which will touch many hearts. With warmth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-arroyo/jennifer-fulwiler-s-story-of-finding-god-when-you-aren-t-looking-for/) [Raymond Arroyo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-arroyo/) > [Michelle Alexander's brave and bold new book paints a haunting picture in which dreary felon garb, post-prison joblessness, and loss of voting rights now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lani-guinier/michelle-alexander-s-brave-and-bold-new-book-paints-a-haunting/) [Lani Guinier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lani-guinier/) > [Yet if strict criticism should till frown on our method, let candor and good humor forgive what is done to the best of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-fielding/yet-if-strict-criticism-should-till-frown-on-our-method-let-candor/) [Sarah Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-fielding/) > [“He is the kind of person I should expect to rescue one from a mad dog at any risk but then insist on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/he-is-the-kind-of-person-i-should-expect-to-rescue-one-from-a-mad-dog/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [“Clare wasn't worried anymore about their being mean to each other. She imagined that someday she'd be part of a friendship in which she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisa-de-los-santos/clare-wasn-t-worried-anymore-about-their-being-mean-to-each-other-she/) [Marisa de los Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisa-de-los-santos/) > [I have ventured to write more intimately about my personal life than is customary for a member of the Supreme Court, and with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/i-have-ventured-to-write-more-intimately-about-my-personal-life-than/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [Getting candor right - with your reports, your peers, and your boss - is a skill that can make or break your career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/getting-candor-right-with-your-reports-your-peers-and-your-boss-is-a/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Judicial excellence requires candor before confirmation. We are being asked to give the nominee enormous power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-kohl/judicial-excellence-requires-candor-before-confirmation-we-are-being/) [Herb Kohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-kohl/) > [“Instead of fleeing God scrutiny, David welcomed it. It's like he was saying, "Look God, since I can't hide from you, since you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-davis-jr/instead-of-fleeing-god-scrutiny-david-welcomed-it-it-s-like-he-was/) [Will Davis Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-davis-jr/) [Browse all 176 Candor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a well-constituted individual refrains from blazoning aught amiss or calamitous in his family, a nation in the like circumstance may without reproach be equally discreet.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herman Melville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/if-a-well-constituted-individual-refrains-from-blazoning-aught-amiss/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Candor" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/if-a-well-constituted-individual-refrains-from-blazoning-aught-amiss/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/herman-melville-162_candor_if-a-well-constituted-individual-refrain_2719408.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/herman-melville-162_candor_if-a-well-constituted-individual-refrain_2719408.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/herman-melville-162_candor_if-a-well-constituted-individual-refrain_2719408.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If a well-constituted individual refrains from blazoning aught amiss or calamitous in his family, a nation…” — Herman Melville", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Herman Melville", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If a well-constituted individual refrains from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/if-a-well-constituted-individual-refrains-from-blazoning-aught-amiss/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/if-a-well-constituted-individual-refrains-from-blazoning-aught-amiss/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```