--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nice is a pallid virtue. Not like honesty…" description: "\"Nice is a pallid virtue. Not like honesty or courage or perseverance. On the other hand, in a nation notably lacking in civility, there is much to be s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/molly-ivins-1296_civility_nice-is-a-pallid-virtue-not-like-honesty_1627731.jpg" --- # Nice is a pallid virtue. Not like honesty or courage or… ![“Nice is a pallid virtue. Not like honesty or courage or perseverance. On the other hand, in a nation notably lacking in civility, there is much to be said for nice.” quote by Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/molly-ivins-1296_civility_nice-is-a-pallid-virtue-not-like-honesty_1627731.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/molly-ivins-1296_civility_nice-is-a-pallid-virtue-not-like-honesty_1627731.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/molly-ivins-1296_civility_nice-is-a-pallid-virtue-not-like-honesty_1627731.jpg) > “Nice is a pallid virtue. Not like honesty or courage or perseverance. On the other hand, in a nation notably lacking in civility, there is much to be said for nice.” [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In a society lacking civility, niceness, though weak, becomes valuable compared to stronger virtues like honesty or courage. **In simple terms:** Niceness matters when civility is low. Key Takeaway Promote civility alongside deeper virtues. Themes civility niceness honesty courage virtue Mood wry critical Type satirical social commentary When to use this quote - public discourse - community standards - education curricula - media analysis Key Concepts social ethics political commentary cultural criticism Questions to Reflect On - When is niceness insufficient? - How can stronger virtues be encouraged? A Different Perspective Niceness alone may not solve deeper societal issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civility/) [Civility Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civility-said-357067/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Lacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lacking/) [Lacking Civility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lacking-civility-357066/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Niceness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/niceness/) [Pallid Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pallid-virtue-357065/) [Perseverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perseverance/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-nice-357068/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Civility, it is said, means obeying the unenforceable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/civility-it-is-said-means-obeying-the-unenforceable/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I know it's sappy, but I bet there's a market for civility and niceness out there that, while probably not as titillating as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weber/i-know-it-s-sappy-but-i-bet-there-s-a-market-for-civility-and/) [Steven Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weber/) > [If I were the commissioner of all sports media, the one change I would make is to sprinkle a little niceness and civility across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mckenzie/if-i-were-the-commissioner-of-all-sports-media-the-one-change-i-would/) [Bob McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mckenzie/) > [I don't know Putin. He said nice things about me. If we got along well, that would be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-don-t-know-putin-he-said-nice-things-about-me-if-we-got-along-well/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I am old enough and wise enough and I have been around long enough to know that things will be said - and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/i-am-old-enough-and-wise-enough-and-i-have-been-around-long-enough-to/) [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/) > [I never, ever said that I was a nice guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/i-never-ever-said-that-i-was-a-nice-guy/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [Temeraire said, 'It is very nice how many books there are, indeed. And on so many subjects!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-novik/temeraire-said-it-is-very-nice-how-many-books-there-are-indeed-and-on/) [Naomi Novik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-novik/) > [“I think that's possibly the nicest thing you have said to me. Ever." I laughed. "No it's not. I've said nice things to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/i-think-that-s-possibly-the-nicest-thing-you-have-said-to-me-ever-i/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [What were you thinking about? When I came in?" "Being Sam," I said. "What a nice thing to be," Grace said. And then she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/what-were-you-thinking-about-when-i-came-in-being-sam-i-said-what-a/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [When I phoned up and said, 'Mum, I'm doing a 52-date national tour with Eddie Izzard,' she said 'That's nice, dear. How are you?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-holland/when-i-phoned-up-and-said-mum-i-m-doing-a-52-date-national-tour-with/) [Dominic Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-holland/) > [“He said it would be very nice to conic home and be in the wrong house. To eat dinner with the wrong people by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-said-it-would-be-very-nice-to-conic-home-and-be-in-the-wrong-house/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think I’ve had a crush on any guy that’s ever said anything nice to me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-aquilino/i-think-i-ve-had-a-crush-on-any-guy-that-s-ever-said-anything-nice-to/) [Carly Aquilino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-aquilino/) > [“You sound like a nice man,” the woman said. “Do I? Well, that’s nice of you to say.” He knew he should hang up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/you-sound-like-a-nice-man-the-woman-said-do-i-well-that-s-nice-of-you/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [“I can't protect you from mean people, because they're everywhere, but I would be nice. That much, I can promise." "Fine," she said. "If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ivory/i-can-t-protect-you-from-mean-people-because-they-re-everywhere-but-i/) [Judith Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ivory/) > [Artie said it would be nice if we got married. I said it would be nice, too. The next thing I knew, we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-turner/artie-said-it-would-be-nice-if-we-got-married-i-said-it-would-be-nice/) [Lana Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-turner/) ## More by Molly Ivins > [Preemptive war is what Israel did in '67 with Arab armies on its borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/preemptive-war-is-what-israel-did-in-67-with-arab-armies-on-its/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [The idols of one's adolescence tend to endure - you never forget how you worshipped them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-idols-of-one-s-adolescence-tend-to-endure-you-never-forget-how/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/having-breast-cancer-is-massive-amounts-of-no-fun/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [How the American right managed to convince itself that the programs to alleviate poverty are responsible for the consequences of poverty will someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/how-the-american-right-managed-to-convince-itself-that-the-programs/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [To mistake Midland for the volk heartland is the West Texas equivalent of assuming that Greenwich, Connecticut, is Levittown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/to-mistake-midland-for-the-volk-heartland-is-the-west-texas/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [I only aim at the powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-only-aim-at-the-powerful/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Even for southerners, Arkansans are amazingly friendly and extend hospitality to all strangers with astonishing openness. You couldn't find a pretension in that state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/even-for-southerners-arkansans-are-amazingly-friendly-and-extend/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [It's hard to convince people that you're killing them for their own good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/it-s-hard-to-convince-people-that-you-re-killing-them-for-their-own/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [the pyramids were built for pharaohs on the happy theory that they could take their stuff with them. Versailles was built for kings on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-pyramids-were-built-for-pharaohs-on-the-happy-theory-that-they/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Any nation that can survive what we have lately in the way of government, is on the high road to permanent glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/any-nation-that-can-survive-what-we-have-lately-in-the-way-of/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [I think provincialism is an endemic characteristic with mankind, I think everybody everywhere is provincial, but it is particularly striking with Texans, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-think-provincialism-is-an-endemic-characteristic-with-mankind-i/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [During a recent panel on the numerous failures of American journalism, I proposed that almost all stories about government should begin: “Look out! They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/during-a-recent-panel-on-the-numerous-failures-of-american-journalism/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Naturally, when it comes to voting, we in Texas are accustomed to discerning that fine hair’s-breadth worth of difference that makes one hopeless dipstick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/naturally-when-it-comes-to-voting-we-in-texas-are-accustomed-to/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/be-outrageous-ridicule-the-fraidy-cats-rejoice-in-all-the-oddities/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Texas is not a civilized place. Texans shoot one another a lot. They also knife, razor, and stomp one another to death with some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/texas-is-not-a-civilized-place-texans-shoot-one-another-a-lot-they/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) [Explore all 260 Molly Ivins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) ## More Civility quotes > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Most adults would not dream of belittling, humiliating, or bullying (verbally or physically) another adult. But many of the same adults think nothing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-steinberg/most-adults-would-not-dream-of-belittling-humiliating-or-bullying/) [Laurence Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-steinberg/) > [Martha Stewart contributes more to our civility than the Baptist Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-hickey/martha-stewart-contributes-more-to-our-civility-than-the-baptist/) [Dave Hickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-hickey/) > [The Second World War had a precipitating effect in that it discredited the empires, as well as bankrupting them. Not only could you no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/the-second-world-war-had-a-precipitating-effect-in-that-it/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [How much wit, good-nature, indulgences, how many good offices and civilities, are required among friends to accomplish in some years what a lovely face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/how-much-wit-good-nature-indulgences-how-many-good-offices-and/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [They parted at last with mutual civility, and possibly a mutual desire of never meeting again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/they-parted-at-last-with-mutual-civility-and-possibly-a-mutual-desire/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“When someone has wronged you, continue to treat them with civility. It’s the ultimate mark of a mensch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruna-martinuzzi/when-someone-has-wronged-you-continue-to-treat-them-with-civility-it/) [Bruna Martinuzzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruna-martinuzzi/) > [“Elizabeth received them with all the forbearance of civility”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/elizabeth-received-them-with-all-the-forbearance-of-civility/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Never in England were there so many gentlemen and so little gentleness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-sansom/never-in-england-were-there-so-many-gentlemen-and-so-little-gentleness/) [C.J. Sansom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-sansom/) > [The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be; because he shows you, by his manner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/the-insolent-civility-of-a-proud-man-is-if-possible-more-shocking/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [A good word is an easy obligation; but not to speak ill requires only our silence, which costs us nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/a-good-word-is-an-easy-obligation-but-not-to-speak-ill-requires-only/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > ['Playboy' operated with a patina of civility that granted the average man a presumption of pleasure that went one way - his. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-morris/playboy-operated-with-a-patina-of-civility-that-granted-the-average/) [Wesley Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-morris/) > [ \[T\]he politically correct are above the rules of ordinary civility, once they have identified you as an unbeliever in their religion. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/t-he-politically-correct-are-above-the-rules-of-ordinary-civility/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Sanctions alone could not stop Iran's nuclear program. But they did help bring Iran to the negotiating table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/sanctions-alone-could-not-stop-iran-s-nuclear-program-but-they-did/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Even here in America, we felt the cool, refreshing breeze of freedom when Nelson Mandela took the seat of Presidency in his country where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/even-here-in-america-we-felt-the-cool-refreshing-breeze-of-freedom/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) [Browse all 393 Civility quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civility/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nice is a pallid virtue. Not like honesty or courage or perseverance. On the other hand, in a nation notably lacking in civility, there is much to be said for nice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Molly Ivins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/nice-is-a-pallid-virtue-not-like-honesty-or-courage-or-perseverance/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Civility" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/nice-is-a-pallid-virtue-not-like-honesty-or-courage-or-perseverance/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/molly-ivins-1296_civility_nice-is-a-pallid-virtue-not-like-honesty_1627731.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/molly-ivins-1296_civility_nice-is-a-pallid-virtue-not-like-honesty_1627731.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/molly-ivins-1296_civility_nice-is-a-pallid-virtue-not-like-honesty_1627731.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nice is a pallid virtue. Not like honesty or courage or perseverance. On the other hand, in a nation notably…” — Molly Ivins", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Molly Ivins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nice is a pallid virtue. Not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/nice-is-a-pallid-virtue-not-like-honesty-or-courage-or-perseverance/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/nice-is-a-pallid-virtue-not-like-honesty-or-courage-or-perseverance/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```