First place Quote by Jasper Fforde
““Honour is kind of what you get when you weaponise manners, but if you’re brought up in a system where honour is valued more than life itself it makes a lot more sense. Some. A bit. Anyway: they attacked me as they were honour bound to do, and I defended myself as I was bound to do, but killed them in self-defence. I think it was what Gareth had planned. He had dishonoured himself by kidnapping Perkins in the first place and causing our tribes to fall out, then been the cause of me dishonouring myself, which then brought dishonour upon himself. By attacking me, he allowed me to restore my lost honour by killing him, and, odd as it might seem, his honour as well. He died with honour, and I thank and respect him for it. We didn’t leave them to the slugs at all, and instead buried them with tribal honours, which is why we were kind of delayed. The ground was hard and we had to ride for miles to find a shovel.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Last Policeman, 2012
Honour is portrayed as a social contract that can justify violence, but it also creates cycles of retaliation and moral ambiguity.
In simple terms: Honour can drive both noble and violent actions.
Key Takeaway
Question the true cost of honour before acting.
Themes
ethics
honour
revenge
social contracts
Mood
conflicted
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- military decisions
- tribal disputes
- personal vendettas
- legal judgments
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
cultural norms
conflict resolution
Questions to Reflect On
- When does honour become harmful?
- Can honour be redefined without violence?
A Different Perspective
Honour may conflict with personal safety or broader societal good.
![“[What is honor]—I suspect that if, after reading this book, you were to go and ask the question of your friends and acquaintances, you might experience some difficultly finding someone who could give you, off the cuff, an accurate and adequate definition of honor. Those who do respond will…” quote by Jack Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f2e/jack-whyte-39547_books_what-is-honor-i-suspect-that-if-after-re_2435400.jpg)
