Decency Quote by J.M. Coetzee
““Decency: the inexplicable: the ground of all ethics. Things we do not do. We do not stare when the soul leaves the body, but veil our eyes with tears or cover them with our hands. We do not stare at scars, which are places where the soul has struggled to leave and been forced back, closed up, sewn in.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Disgrace, 1999
Decency is an unseen moral foundation; we avoid confronting suffering directly, preferring to hide or ignore it.
In simple terms: Decency hides suffering from view.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge and confront moral discomfort.
Themes
ethics
human suffering
avoidance
visibility
Mood
somber
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Healthcare settings
- conflict zones
- personal grief
- social injustice
Key Concepts
Moral Philosophy
Existentialism
Psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we avoid looking at pain?
- What does confronting decency reveal about ourselves?
A Different Perspective
Facing suffering can be overwhelming and may cause distress.
![“I am not a member of the chamber of commerce for show business, believe me, but there are some really good people in the business, and [Tom] Hanks has this everyman decency onscreen, but he actually is that guy.” quote by Kurt Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b01/kurt-fuller-12139_believe_i-am-not-a-member-of-the-chamber-of-comm_68948.jpg)
