--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Decency: the inexplicable: the ground of…" description: "\"“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 ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/j-m-coetzee-2457_decency_decency-the-inexplicable-the-ground-of-a_1575600.png" --- # Decency: the inexplicable: the ground of all ethics… ![“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…” quote by J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/j-m-coetzee-2457_decency_decency-the-inexplicable-the-ground-of-a_1575600.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/j-m-coetzee-2457_decency_decency-the-inexplicable-the-ground-of-a_1575600.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfb/j-m-coetzee-2457_decency_decency-the-inexplicable-the-ground-of-a_1575600.png) > ““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.”” [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decency/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [Those words that stare into your soul and to yourself . You will befall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pantera/those-words-that-stare-into-your-soul-and-to-yourself-you-will-befall/) [Pantera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pantera/) > [That strange moment when you have to stare at a text for five minutes to figure out how to reply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/that-strange-moment-when-you-have-to-stare-at-a-text-for-five-minutes/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Lower your gaze because you become less of a human every time you stare at a woman and you stare at her like she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/lower-your-gaze-because-you-become-less-of-a-human-every-time-you/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [People say don't stare. Through the photos, not only do I stare, but I allow viewers to stare at the subject, to see things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawoud-bey/people-say-don-t-stare-through-the-photos-not-only-do-i-stare-but-i/) [Dawoud Bey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawoud-bey/) > [That awkward moment when you brush your teeth and someone stare you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena/that-awkward-moment-when-you-brush-your-teeth-and-someone-stare-you/) [Selena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena/) > [I really think you stare at yourself and you see things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-really-think-you-stare-at-yourself-and-you-see-things/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [If anyone asks, I'll tell them we both just moved on. When people all stare, I'll pretend that I don't hear them talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-clarkson/if-anyone-asks-i-ll-tell-them-we-both-just-moved-on-when-people-all/) [Kelly Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-clarkson/) > [I stare to memorize your face, to kiss you in my mind, love you all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/i-stare-to-memorize-your-face-to-kiss-you-in-my-mind-love-you-all-the/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [Sometimes, I just wanna sit there and stare at you! But, I don't wanna make you think I'm any more weird than I already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel/sometimes-i-just-wanna-sit-there-and-stare-at-you-but-i-don-t-wanna/) [Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel/) > [Her: I make heads turn when I walk in a room. Me: People always stare at car accidents. -Just Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-hardin/her-i-make-heads-turn-when-i-walk-in-a-room-me-people-always-stare-at/) [Ephrem Hardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-hardin/) > [Whether or not storms come, we can not choose. But where we stare during a storm, that we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/whether-or-not-storms-come-we-can-not-choose-but-where-we-stare/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [There are only two reasons why you'd stare at your crotch with a smile on your face when driving; neither one of them is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-abraham/there-are-only-two-reasons-why-you-d-stare-at-your-crotch-with-a/) [Christopher Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-abraham/) > [“Whatv is thisnlife, if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-williamson/whatv-is-thisnlife-if-full-of-care-we-have-no-time-to-stand-and-stare/) [Henry Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-williamson/) > [That awkward moment when you tell a kid hi and they just stare at you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-awkward-moment-when-you-tell-a-kid-hi-and-they-just-stare-at-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All I can do every time I miss you is to stare at your pictures and smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-i-can-do-every-time-i-miss-you-is-to-stare-at-your-pictures-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by J.M. Coetzee > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“I truly believe I am not afraid of death. What I shrink from, I believe, is the shame of dying as stupid and befuddled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-truly-believe-i-am-not-afraid-of-death-what-i-shrink-from-i-believe/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Technically he is old enough to be her father; but then, technically one can be a father at twelve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/technically-he-is-old-enough-to-be-her-father-but-then-technically/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“I remember asking John, after Dusklands, what new project he had on the go. His answer was vague. 'There is always something or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-remember-asking-john-after-dusklands-what-new-project-he-had-on-the/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“The truth is, he tired of criticism, tired of prose measured by the yard." --Disgrace”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/the-truth-is-he-tired-of-criticism-tired-of-prose-measured-by-the/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Since I was in flight from religion, I assumed that my classmates had to be in flight from religion too, albeit in a quieter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/since-i-was-in-flight-from-religion-i-assumed-that-my-classmates-had/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Lucy was frightened, frightened near to death. Her voice choked, she could not breath, her limbs went numb. "This is not happening", she said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/lucy-was-frightened-frightened-near-to-death-her-voice-choked-she/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“It occurs to me that we crush insects beneath our feet, miracles of creation too, beetles, worms, cockroaches, ants, in their various ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/it-occurs-to-me-that-we-crush-insects-beneath-our-feet-miracles-of/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“He sits with the pen in his hand, holding himself back from a descent into representations that have no place in the world, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/he-sits-with-the-pen-in-his-hand-holding-himself-back-from-a-descent/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Do you remember Vlek, who was such a good sheepdog that she and Jakob alone could drive a whole flock past you at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/do-you-remember-vlek-who-was-such-a-good-sheepdog-that-she-and-jakob/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“We are accustomed to believe that our world was created by God speaking the Word; but I ask, may it not rather be that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/we-are-accustomed-to-believe-that-our-world-was-created-by-god/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“...from the oppression of such freedom who would not welcome the liberation of confinement?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/from-the-oppression-of-such-freedom-who-would-not-welcome-the/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“If he has a last thought, if there is time for a last thought, it will simply be, So this is what a last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/if-he-has-a-last-thought-if-there-is-time-for-a-last-thought-it-will/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“At what age , he wonders, did Origen castrate himself? Not the most graceful solution, but then ageing is not a graceful bussines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/at-what-age-he-wonders-did-origen-castrate-himself-not-the-most/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“...he seems to be on the brink of one of his bad spells again, one of the fits of lugubrious self-pity that turn into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/he-seems-to-be-on-the-brink-of-one-of-his-bad-spells-again-one-of-the/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) [Explore all 122 J.M. Coetzee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) ## More Decency quotes > [Come on, that was no foul! It may be a violation of all the basic rules of human decency, but its not a foul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walton/come-on-that-was-no-foul-it-may-be-a-violation-of-all-the-basic-rules/) [Bill Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walton/) > [Listen, young people, I understand narcissism - clearly. But at least I have the decency to hate myself. And that's what's missing from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/listen-young-people-i-understand-narcissism-clearly-but-at-least-i/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [What's wrong with death sir? What are we so mortally afraid of? Why can't we treat death with a certain amount of humanity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/what-s-wrong-with-death-sir-what-are-we-so-mortally-afraid-of-why-can/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [Don't overestimate the decency of the human race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/don-t-overestimate-the-decency-of-the-human-race/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Faye, if you got eaten by another shark, would you please at least have the decency to say so? My time is kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-lothlorien/faye-if-you-got-eaten-by-another-shark-would-you-please-at-least-have/) Elle Lothlorien > [Let the watchwords of all our people be the old familiar watchwords of honesty, decency, fair-dealing, and commonsense."... "We must treat each man on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-the-watchwords-of-all-our-people-be-the-old-familiar-watchwords/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Liberty ... was a two-headed boon. There was first, the liberty of the people as a whole to determine the forms of their own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/liberty-was-a-two-headed-boon-there-was-first-the-liberty-of-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I gather a repulsive nobody writing in a paper no one of any decency would be seen dead with has written something loathesome and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/i-gather-a-repulsive-nobody-writing-in-a-paper-no-one-of-any-decency/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“The quality of your life ultimately depends on the quality of your relationships . . . which are basically a reflection of your sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/the-quality-of-your-life-ultimately-depends-on-the-quality-of-your/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [“No woman deserves to be treated as little more than your toy. If you feel she is nothing more than a cheap hooker, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-anne/no-woman-deserves-to-be-treated-as-little-more-than-your-toy-if-you/) [Melody Anne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-anne/) > [“Almost everything you think is sacred, good and decent, is a lie and an all-out assault against truth and decency.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/almost-everything-you-think-is-sacred-good-and-decent-is-a-lie-and-an/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I am not a member of the chamber of commerce for show business, believe me, but there are some really good people in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-fuller/i-am-not-a-member-of-the-chamber-of-commerce-for-show-business/) [Kurt Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-fuller/) > [Out of all the fighters that I have developed, clothed, financed, Gerrie Coetzee is the only one who had the decency to say 'thanks'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-king/out-of-all-the-fighters-that-i-have-developed-clothed-financed-gerrie/) [Don King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-king/) > [If I see that something is wrong, I don't care who says it. Whether it's a Republican or Democrat, the left or the right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-aragones/if-i-see-that-something-is-wrong-i-don-t-care-who-says-it-whether-it/) [Sergio Aragones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-aragones/) > [I love our shared island, our shared Ireland and its core decency. I love it for its imagination and its celebration of the endless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-d-higgins/i-love-our-shared-island-our-shared-ireland-and-its-core-decency-i/) [Michael D. Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-d-higgins/) [Browse all 559 Decency quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decency/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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. 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