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Whilst shame keeps its watch, virtue is not wholly extinguished in the heart; nor will moderation be utterly exiled from the minds of tyrants.
EDMUND BURKE, Reflections on the Revolution in France
Whate'ers begun in anger ends in shame.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Poor Richard's Almanack, 1734
- Honor and shame from no condition rise;
- Act well your part, there all the honor lies.
ALEXANDER POPE, An Essay on Man
The difference between guilt and shame is very clear—in theory. We feel guilty for what we do. We feel shame for what we are.
LEWIS B. SMEDES, Shame and Grace
One of the misfortunes of our time is that in getting rid of false shame we have killed off so much real shame as well.
LOUIS KRONENBERGER, Company Manners
The secret thoughts of a man run over all things, holy, profane, clean, obscene, grave, and light, without shame or blame.
- Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides:
- Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, King Lear
Shame is like everything else; live with it for long enough and it becomes part of the furniture.
If we had the courage to confront the doubts we timidly conceive about ourselves, none of us would utter an 'I' without shame.
EMILE CIORAN, A Short History of Decay
Shame is closely related to guilt, but there is a key qualitative difference. No audience is needed for feelings of guilt, no one else need know, for the guilty person is his own judge. Not so for shame. The humiliation of shame requires disapproval or ridicule by others. If no one ever learns of a misdeed there will be no shame, but there still might be guilt. Of course, there may be both. The distinction between shame and guilt is very important, since these two emotions may tear a person in opposite directions. The wish to relieve guilt may motivate a confession, but the wish to avoid the humiliation of shame may prevent it.
You can find shame in every house, burning in an ashtray, hanging framed upon a wall, covering a bed. But nobody notices it any more.
Live in thy shame, but die not shame with thee!
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, Richard II
Shame is an unhappy emotion invented by pietists in order to exploit the human race.
BLAKE EDWARDS, Victor/Victoria
The only shame is to have none.
- Shame need not crouch
- In such an earth as ours
- Stand—stand erect;
- The universe is yours.
EMILY DICKINSON, "Not with a Club, the Heart is broken"
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