The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
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
A nightingale dies for shame if another bird sings better.
—Robert Burton (1577–1640) English Scholar, Clergyman
If we are not ashamed to think it, we should not be ashamed to say it.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Where the mind is past hope, the heart is past shame.
—John Lyly (1554–1606) English Dramatist, Novelist, Writer
Honor and shame from no condition rise; act well your part—there all the honor lies.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
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
I have Dalinian thought: the one thing the world will never have enough of is the outrageous.
—Salvador Dali (1904–89) Spanish Painter
Ashamed of the many frailties they feel within, all men endeavor to hide themselves, their ugly nakedness, from each other, and wrapping up the true motives of their hearts in the specious cloak of sociableness, and their concern for the public good, they are in hopes of concealing their filthy appetites and the deformity of their desires.
—Bernard Mandeville (1670–1733) Anglo-Dutch Philosopher, Satirist
Where shame is, there is also fear.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
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
Study carefully, the character of the one you recommend, lest their misconduct bring you shame.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
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
The extremes of glory and of shame, Like east and west, become the same No Indian prince has to his palace – More followers than a thief to the gallows
—Samuel Butler
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
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
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
As blushing will sometimes make a whore pass for a virtuous woman, so modesty may make a fool seem a man of sense.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
An event has happened, upon which it is difficult to speak, and impossible to be silent.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Shame is worse than death.
—Russian Proverb
What is the seal of attained freedom? -No longer being ashamed in front of oneself.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
It is the public scandal that offends; to sin in secret is no sin at all.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
There’s a blush for won t, and a blush for shan’t, and a blush for having done it: There’s a blush for thought and a blush for naught, and a blush for just begun it.
—John Keats (1795–1821) English Poet
Gossip is charming! History is merely gossip. But scandal is gossip made tedious by morality.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
We live in an atmosphere of shame. We are ashamed of everything that is real about us; ashamed of ourselves, of our relatives, of our incomes, of our accents, of our opinions, of our experience, just as we are ashamed of our naked skins.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Victims may be defensive, submissive, over-accommodating to others, passive-aggressive in conflict, dependent on others for self-worth, overly sensitive, even manipulative. They’re often angry, resentful, and envious, feeling unworthy or ashamed about their circumstances. Have you ever felt or acted this way?
—David Emerald
The more things a man is ashamed of, the more respectable he is.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish 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
If a man fools me once, shame on him. If he fools me twice, shame on me.
—Chinese Proverb