--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You may of course ask whether we really…" description: "\"“You may of course ask whether we really need to refer to \"saints\". Wouldn't it suffice just to refer to decent people? It is true that they form a min..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/viktor-emil-frankl-45538_decent-people_you-may-of-course-ask-whether-we-really_47526.jpg" --- # You may of course ask whether we really need to refer to… ![“You may of course ask whether we really need to refer to "saints". Wouldn't it suffice just to refer to decent people? It is true that they form a minority. More than that, they always will remain a minority. And yet I see therein the very challenge to join the minority. For the world is in a bad…” quote by Viktor Emil Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/viktor-emil-frankl-45538_decent-people_you-may-of-course-ask-whether-we-really_47526.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/viktor-emil-frankl-45538_decent-people_you-may-of-course-ask-whether-we-really_47526.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/viktor-emil-frankl-45538_decent-people_you-may-of-course-ask-whether-we-really_47526.jpg) > ““You may of course ask whether we really need to refer to "saints". Wouldn't it suffice just to refer to decent people? It is true that they form a minority. More than that, they always will remain a minority. And yet I see therein the very challenge to join the minority. For the world is in a bad state, but everything will become still worse unless each of us does his best.”” [Viktor Emil Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-emil-frankl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that moral excellence is rare, yet essential; it urges individuals to strive for personal responsibility despite a bleak world. **In simple terms:** Minority of decent people must act. Key Takeaway Personal duty matters. Themes responsibility morality individualism optimism ethics Mood determined hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - facing societal decline - personal ethical dilemmas - leadership in crisis Key Concepts human agency social decay moral courage Practical Applications - motivational speaking - ethical training Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to be a 'decent person' in today's society? - How can individuals influence a larger moral climate? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Saints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saints/) ## Related quotes > [“Wouldn't it suffice just to refer to decent people? It is true that they form a minority. More than that, they always will remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/wouldn-t-it-suffice-just-to-refer-to-decent-people-it-is-true-that/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [The more that happens that makes sure liberals and liberalism remain a minority, the better off the world is gonna be and the better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-more-that-happens-that-makes-sure-liberals-and-liberalism-remain/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“my wish is for people in general to remain fools of randomness (so I can trade against them), yet for there to remain a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/my-wish-is-for-people-in-general-to-remain-fools-of-randomness-so-i/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [When someone puts you down and treats you badly, just remember that there is something wrong with them, not you. Decent people will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/when-someone-puts-you-down-and-treats-you-badly-just-remember-that/) Unkown > [ I explain how America hatred and Jew hatred are \[INDEMIC\] to Modern Liberalism and delve deeper into why it is the otherwise good and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-sayet/i-explain-how-america-hatred-and-jew-hatred-are-indemic-to-modern/) [Evan Sayet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-sayet/) > [Religious factions will go on imposing their will on others unless the decent people connected to them recognize that religion has no place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/religious-factions-will-go-on-imposing-their-will-on-others-unless/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [“They just don't know you,' Penelope said, patting her on the hand. 'And they don't know \*you\*, either,' Lady Danbury quite pointedly replied ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/they-just-don-t-know-you-penelope-said-patting-her-on-the-hand-and/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“On the one hand we must never imagine that our own unaided efforts can be relied on to carry us even through the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/on-the-one-hand-we-must-never-imagine-that-our-own-unaided-efforts/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [Don't try to be fancy. Shoot for the center of mass. The world is full of decent people. Criminals we can do without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/don-t-try-to-be-fancy-shoot-for-the-center-of-mass-the-world-is-full/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Ineos is a friendly organisation. Very few people leave. It's collegiate. There's not much politics, and we like decent people. We don't like arrogance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ratcliffe/ineos-is-a-friendly-organisation-very-few-people-leave-it-s/) [Jim Ratcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ratcliffe/) > [Certain types of loudmouthism should be a capital offense among decent people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/certain-types-of-loudmouthism-should-be-a-capital-offense-among/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [I have a treasure trove of Baker memories, all of which reinforce my sense of Howard Baker as one of the most decent people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yarmuth/i-have-a-treasure-trove-of-baker-memories-all-of-which-reinforce-my/) [John Yarmuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yarmuth/) > [“This attack is the greatest tragedy in human history,” Avasarala said. “They want the belt to rise up so they can hide behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/this-attack-is-the-greatest-tragedy-in-human-history-avasarala-said/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [“Experience often repeated, truly bitter experience, had taught him long ago that with decent people, especially Moscow people -- always slow to move and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/experience-often-repeated-truly-bitter-experience-had-taught-him-long/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [I guess the only thing to do now is meet his parents. I'm sure they're decent people. I mean they gotta be if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-guess-the-only-thing-to-do-now-is-meet-his-parents-i-m-sure-they-re/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) ## More by Viktor Emil Frankl > [“The third aspect of the tragic triad concerns death. But it concerns life as well, for at any time each of the moments of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-emil-frankl/the-third-aspect-of-the-tragic-triad-concerns-death-but-it-concerns/) [Viktor Emil Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-emil-frankl/) > [“This emphasis on responsibleness is reflected in the categorical imperative of logotherapy, which is: "Live as if you were living already for the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-emil-frankl/this-emphasis-on-responsibleness-is-reflected-in-the-categorical/) [Viktor Emil Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-emil-frankl/) > [“At the beginning of human history, man lost some of the basic animal instincts in which an animal's behavior is embedded and by which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-emil-frankl/at-the-beginning-of-human-history-man-lost-some-of-the-basic-animal/) [Viktor Emil Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-emil-frankl/) > [“Can you tell me in one sentence what is meant by logotherapy?" he asked. "At least, what is the difference between psychoanalysis and logotherapy?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-emil-frankl/can-you-tell-me-in-one-sentence-what-is-meant-by-logotherapy-he-asked/) [Viktor Emil Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-emil-frankl/) > [“Armastus on ülim eesmärk, milleni inimene võib jõuda.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-emil-frankl/armastus-on-lim-eesm-rk-milleni-inimene-v-ib-j-uda/) [Viktor Emil Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-emil-frankl/) > [“Thus it can be seen that mental health is based on a certain degree of tension, the tension between what one has already achieved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-emil-frankl/thus-it-can-be-seen-that-mental-health-is-based-on-a-certain-degree/) [Viktor Emil Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-emil-frankl/) [Explore all 7 Viktor Emil Frankl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-emil-frankl/) ## More Decent people quotes > [I guess the only thing to do now is meet his parents. I'm sure they're decent people. I mean they gotta be if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-guess-the-only-thing-to-do-now-is-meet-his-parents-i-m-sure-they-re/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [“Experience often repeated, truly bitter experience, had taught him long ago that with decent people, especially Moscow people -- always slow to move and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/experience-often-repeated-truly-bitter-experience-had-taught-him-long/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“This attack is the greatest tragedy in human history,” Avasarala said. “They want the belt to rise up so they can hide behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/this-attack-is-the-greatest-tragedy-in-human-history-avasarala-said/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [I have a treasure trove of Baker memories, all of which reinforce my sense of Howard Baker as one of the most decent people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yarmuth/i-have-a-treasure-trove-of-baker-memories-all-of-which-reinforce-my/) [John Yarmuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yarmuth/) > [Certain types of loudmouthism should be a capital offense among decent people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/certain-types-of-loudmouthism-should-be-a-capital-offense-among/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Ineos is a friendly organisation. Very few people leave. It's collegiate. There's not much politics, and we like decent people. We don't like arrogance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ratcliffe/ineos-is-a-friendly-organisation-very-few-people-leave-it-s/) [Jim Ratcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ratcliffe/) > [Don't try to be fancy. Shoot for the center of mass. The world is full of decent people. Criminals we can do without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/don-t-try-to-be-fancy-shoot-for-the-center-of-mass-the-world-is-full/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [“On the one hand we must never imagine that our own unaided efforts can be relied on to carry us even through the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/on-the-one-hand-we-must-never-imagine-that-our-own-unaided-efforts/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“They just don't know you,' Penelope said, patting her on the hand. 'And they don't know \*you\*, either,' Lady Danbury quite pointedly replied ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/they-just-don-t-know-you-penelope-said-patting-her-on-the-hand-and/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [Religious factions will go on imposing their will on others unless the decent people connected to them recognize that religion has no place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/religious-factions-will-go-on-imposing-their-will-on-others-unless/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [ I explain how America hatred and Jew hatred are \[INDEMIC\] to Modern Liberalism and delve deeper into why it is the otherwise good and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-sayet/i-explain-how-america-hatred-and-jew-hatred-are-indemic-to-modern/) [Evan Sayet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-sayet/) > [When someone puts you down and treats you badly, just remember that there is something wrong with them, not you. Decent people will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/when-someone-puts-you-down-and-treats-you-badly-just-remember-that/) Unkown > [Most of my heroes are just decent people. Decency is rare and underrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/most-of-my-heroes-are-just-decent-people-decency-is-rare-and/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“No respecter of evidence has ever found the least clue as to what life is all about, and what people should do with it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr/no-respecter-of-evidence-has-ever-found-the-least-clue-as-to-what/) [Kurt Vonnegut Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr/) > [“If you’re decent to people, you’ll usually find out they’re decent people, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lane/if-you-re-decent-to-people-you-ll-usually-find-out-they-re-decent/) [Amy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lane/) Browse all 156 Decent people quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You may of course ask whether we really need to refer to \"saints\". 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