Permissiveness Quote by Jeffrey R. Holland
““It seems the door to permissiveness, the door to lewdness and vulgarity and obscenity swings only one way. It only opens farther and farther; it never seems to swing back. Individuals can choose to close it, but it is certain, historically speaking, that public appetite and public policy will not close it. No, in the moral realm the only real control you have is self-control.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: General Conference, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, 2018
Societal tolerance for indecency tends to expand, while collective resistance rarely reverses it; personal virtue remains the only reliable safeguard.
In simple terms: Public morals drift outward; self‑control is key.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate personal discipline.
Themes
morality
self‑control
culture
public policy
individual responsibility
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal decision making
- community standards
- media consumption
- education on values
Key Concepts
ethical philosophy
social dynamics
psychology of restraint
Questions to Reflect On
- How can individuals influence public standards?
- What role does community play in reinforcing self‑control?
A Different Perspective
Self‑control cannot halt broader cultural shifts without collective action.
