--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The difference there is betwixt honor and…" description: "\"The difference there is betwixt honor and honesty seems to be chiefly the motive; the mere honest man does that from duty which the man of honor does f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/william-shenstone-4083_character_the-difference-there-is-betwixt-honor-an_778503.jpg" --- # The difference there is betwixt honor and honesty seems to… ![“The difference there is betwixt honor and honesty seems to be chiefly the motive; the mere honest man does that from duty which the man of honor does for the sake of character.” quote by William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/william-shenstone-4083_character_the-difference-there-is-betwixt-honor-an_778503.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/william-shenstone-4083_character_the-difference-there-is-betwixt-honor-an_778503.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/william-shenstone-4083_character_the-difference-there-is-betwixt-honor-an_778503.jpg) > “The difference there is betwixt honor and honesty seems to be chiefly the motive; the mere honest man does that from duty which the man of honor does for the sake of character.” [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Honor and honesty differ: honor seeks to build character, while honesty follows duty. **In simple terms:** Honor aims at character; honesty follows duty. Key Takeaway Recognize why you act. Themes ethics character motivation Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - leadership decisions - personal integrity - public service - team dynamics Key Concepts integrity reputation self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - Do you act for reputation or principle? - How does duty shape your honesty? A Different Perspective Honor can be superficial if not grounded in true integrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [He man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he-man/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-man/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Honesty Chiefly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty-chiefly-6003112/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Honor Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor-honesty-878727/) [Man Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-honor/) [Man Of Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-of-honor/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Motive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motive/) [Sake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sake/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) ## Related quotes > [It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-the-duty-of-a-man-of-honor-to-teach-others-the-good-which-he/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I don't think that (U.S. President) George Bush...is a man of honor,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/i-don-t-think-that-u-s-president-george-bush-is-a-man-of-honor/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [The most tragic thing in the world is a man of genius who is not a man of honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-most-tragic-thing-in-the-world-is-a-man-of-genius-who-is-not-a/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Zeal for the public good is the characteristic of a man of honor and a gentleman, and must take the place of pleasures, profits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/zeal-for-the-public-good-is-the-characteristic-of-a-man-of-honor-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The gentleman does not needlessly and unnecessarily remind an offender of a wrong he may have committed against him. He cannot only forgive, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/the-gentleman-does-not-needlessly-and-unnecessarily-remind-an/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [“A man of honor does swiftly that which must be done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kearney/a-man-of-honor-does-swiftly-that-which-must-be-done/) [Susan Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kearney/) > [“No man of honor avoided what needed to be done, simply because it might not proceed in his favor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-delacroix/no-man-of-honor-avoided-what-needed-to-be-done-simply-because-it/) [Claire Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-delacroix/) > [I want people to be sincere; a man of honor shouldn't speak a single word that doesn't come straight from his heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-want-people-to-be-sincere-a-man-of-honor-shouldn-t-speak-a-single/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [“Morality and honor are not to be confused. "The difference between a moral man and a man of honor is that the latter regrets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/morality-and-honor-are-not-to-be-confused-the-difference-between-a/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [“Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. The detective must be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/down-these-mean-streets-a-man-must-go-who-is-not-himself-mean-who-is-2/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [No man of honor ever quite lives up to his code, any more than a moral man manages to avoid sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/no-man-of-honor-ever-quite-lives-up-to-his-code-any-more-than-a-moral/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [The difference between a moral man and a man of honor is that the latter regrets a discreditable act, even when it has worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-difference-between-a-moral-man-and-a-man-of-honor-is-that-the/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“In everything that can be called art there is a quality of redemption. It may be pure tragedy, if it is high tragedy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/in-everything-that-can-be-called-art-there-is-a-quality-of-redemption/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/a-true-man-of-honor-feels-humbled-himself-when-he-cannot-help/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid...He is the hero, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/down-these-mean-streets-a-man-must-go-who-is-not-himself-mean-who-is-3/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) ## More by William Shenstone > [When self-interest inclines a man to print, he should consider that the purchaser expects a pennyworth for his penny, and has reason to asperse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/when-self-interest-inclines-a-man-to-print-he-should-consider-that/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [Fashion is a great restraint upon your persons of taste and fancy; who would otherwise in the most trifling instances be able to distinguish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/fashion-is-a-great-restraint-upon-your-persons-of-taste-and-fancy-who/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [Whoe'er has travell'd life's dull round, Where'er his stages may have been, May sigh to think he still has found The warmest welcome at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/whoe-er-has-travell-d-life-s-dull-round-where-er-his-stages-may-have/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [My banks they are furnish'd with bees, Whose murmur invites one to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/my-banks-they-are-furnish-d-with-bees-whose-murmur-invites-one-to/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [His knowledge of books had in some degree diminished his knowledge of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/his-knowledge-of-books-had-in-some-degree-diminished-his-knowledge-of/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [Patience is the panacea; but where does it grow, or who can swallow it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/patience-is-the-panacea-but-where-does-it-grow-or-who-can-swallow-it/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [A large retinue upon a small income, like a large cascade upon a small stream, tends to discover its tenuity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/a-large-retinue-upon-a-small-income-like-a-large-cascade-upon-a-small/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [Independence may be found in comparative as well as in absolute abundance; I mean where a person contracts his desires within the limits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/independence-may-be-found-in-comparative-as-well-as-in-absolute/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [Taste is pursued at a less expense than fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/taste-is-pursued-at-a-less-expense-than-fashion/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [Long sentences in a short composition are like large rooms in a little house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/long-sentences-in-a-short-composition-are-like-large-rooms-in-a/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [Anger is a great force. If you control it, it can be transmuted into a power which can move the whole world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/anger-is-a-great-force-if-you-control-it-it-can-be-transmuted-into-a/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [Persons who discover a flatterer, do not always disapprove him, because he imagines them considerable enough to deserve his applications.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/persons-who-discover-a-flatterer-do-not-always-disapprove-him-because/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [A man has generally the good or ill qualities which he attributes to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/a-man-has-generally-the-good-or-ill-qualities-which-he-attributes-to/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [A fool and his words are soon parted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/a-fool-and-his-words-are-soon-parted/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [It should seem that indolence itself would incline a person to be honest, as it requires infinitely greater pains and contrivance to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/it-should-seem-that-indolence-itself-would-incline-a-person-to-be/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) [Explore all 116 William Shenstone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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