Being ignorant is not so much a shame as being unwilling to learn.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
If yet not lost to all the sense of shame.
—Homer (751–651 BCE) Ancient Greek Poet
In the case of scandal, as in that of robbery, the receiver is always thought as bad as the thief.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Our jobs determine to a large extent what our lives are like. Is what you do for a living making you ill? Does it keep you from becoming a more fully realized person? Do you feel ashamed of what you have to do at work? All too often, the answer to such questions is yes. Yet it does not have to be like that. Work can be one of the most joyful, most fulfilling aspects of life. Whether it will be or not depends on the actions we collectively take.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1934–2021) Hungarian-American Psychologist
Here shame dissuades him, there his fear prevails, And each by turns his aching heart assails.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
Less shame a greater fault would palliate.
—Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) Italian Poet, Philosopher
Scandal is merely the compassionate allowance which the gay make to the humdrum. Think how many blameless lives are brightened by the blazing indiscretions of other people.
—Saki (Hector Hugh Munro) (1870–1916) British Short Story Writer, Satirist, Historian
See! those fiendish lineaments graven on the darkness, the writhed lip of scorn, the mockery of that living eye, the pointed finger, touching the sore place in your heart! Do you remember any act of enormous folly, at which you would blush, even in the remotest cavern of the earth? Then recognize your Shame.
—Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–64) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
It is the public scandal that offends; to sin in secret is no sin at all.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Honor and shame from no condition rise; act well your part—there all the honor lies.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
The basis of shame is not some personal mistake of ours, but the ignominy, the humiliation we feel that we must be what we are without any choice in the matter, and that this humiliation is seen by everyone.
—Milan Kundera (b.1929) Czech Novelist
Most of our faults are more pardonable than the means we use to conceal them.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
If we are not ashamed to think it, we should not be ashamed to say it.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
What a man is ashamed of is always at bottom himself; and he is ashamed of himself at bottom always for being afraid.
—R. G. Collingwood (1889–1943) English Philosopher, Historian, Archaeologist
Of all kinds of shame, the worst, surely, is being ashamed of frugality or poverty.
—Livy (Titus Livius) (59 BCE–17 CE) Roman Historian
The shame that arises from praise which we do not deserve often makes us do things we should otherwise never have attempted.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
I never wonder to see men wicked, but I often wonder to see them not ashamed.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Certain it is that scandal is good brisk talk, whereas praise of one’s neighbor is by no means lively hearing. An acquaintance grilled, scored, devilled, and served with mustard and cayenne pepper excites the appetite; whereas a slice of cold friend with currant jelly is but a sickly, unrelishing meat.
—William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–63) English Novelist
Girls blush, sometimes, because they are alive, half wishing they were dead to save the shame. The sudden blush devours them, neck and brow; They have drawn too near the fire of life, like gnats, and flare up bodily, wings and all. What then? Who’s sorry for a gnat or girl?
—Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–61) English Poet
The most curious offspring of shame is shyness.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
While shame keeps watch virtue is not wholly extinguished from the heart, nor will moderation be utterly exiled from the mind of tyrants.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Nor do they trust their tongue alone, but speak a language of their own; can read a nod, a shrug, a look, far better than a printed book; convey a libel in a frown, and wink a reputation down.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
One should never make one’s debut with a scandal. One should reserve that to give an interest to one’s old age.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Sin hath the devil for its father, shame for its companion, and death for its wages
—Thomas J. Watson, Sr. (1874–1956) American Business Executive
What is the seal of attained freedom? -No longer being ashamed in front of oneself.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
She is absolutely inadmissible into society. Many a woman has a past, but I am told that she has at least a dozen, and that they all fit.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Study carefully, the character of the one you recommend, lest their misconduct bring you shame.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Gossip is charming! History is merely gossip. But scandal is gossip made tedious by morality.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
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