--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a tragicomic fact that our proper…" description: "\"“It is a tragicomic fact that our proper upbringing has become an ally of the secret police. (...) The \"Tell the truth!\" imperative drummed into us so ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/648/milan-kundera-120_ethics_it-is-a-tragicomic-fact-that-our-proper_2801145.jpg" --- # It is a tragicomic fact that our proper upbringing has… ![“It is a tragicomic fact that our proper upbringing has become an ally of the secret police. (...) The "Tell the truth!" imperative drummed into us so automatically that we feel ashamed of lying even to a secret policeman.” quote by Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/648/milan-kundera-120_ethics_it-is-a-tragicomic-fact-that-our-proper_2801145.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/648/milan-kundera-120_ethics_it-is-a-tragicomic-fact-that-our-proper_2801145.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/648/milan-kundera-120_ethics_it-is-a-tragicomic-fact-that-our-proper_2801145.jpg) > ““It is a tragicomic fact that our proper upbringing has become an ally of the secret police. (...) The "Tell the truth!" imperative drummed into us so automatically that we feel ashamed of lying even to a secret policeman.”” [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal pressure to always tell truth can create shame when lying, even to oppressive forces. **In simple terms:** Truth‑telling can become a burden. Key Takeaway Balance honesty with self‑protection. Themes truth societal pressure morality Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - authoritarian regimes - personal relationships - legal testimony - journalism Key Concepts ethical dilemmas state surveillance Questions to Reflect On - When is it justified to conceal truth? - How do you navigate moral conflict? A Different Perspective Blind obedience can endanger personal safety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“The mistake ninety-nine percent of humanity made, as far as Fats could see, was being ashamed of what they were, lying about it, trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/the-mistake-ninety-nine-percent-of-humanity-made-as-far-as-fats-could/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Don’t be afraid of a little metaphor; it won’t bite you, but you should always make sure you know how to cash it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-c-dennett/don-t-be-afraid-of-a-little-metaphor-it-won-t-bite-you-but-you-should/) [Daniel C. 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So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Records, radio, television, movies, magazines-all are monopolized by the money managers who are guided by one ethic, the words wealth and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/records-radio-television-movies-magazines-all-are-monopolized-by-the/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. 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Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-hayes/any-time-you-give-a-man-something-he-doesn-t-earn-you-cheapen-him-our/) [Woody Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-hayes/) [Browse all 4,548 Ethics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is a tragicomic fact that our proper upbringing has become an ally of the secret police. (...) 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