"I still had some honor... I still have some now"

Roman Polanski’s statement, “I still had some honor... I still have some now,” resonates with a quiet defensiveness and self-assertion in the face of enduring personal and public controversies. Rather than a grand declaration of redemption or innocence, his words evoke an introspective attempt to salvage dignity amid judgment, blame, and scandal. The use of the word “still” is critical, suggesting that, despite all that has happened, accusations, trial, exile, and ongoing debate, he clings to a belief in personal integrity, or at least aspects of his identity that are bigger than only the allegations or mistakes he has been associated with.

Polanski’s phrasing is tentative, yet stubborn. He does not proclaim total honor, neither does he dismiss his actions or public criticism. Instead, he acknowledges, perhaps, past honor, a sense of self-worth or principles once held. There is a possibility of regret implied; the ellipsis between “had” and “have” carries the weight of everything lost in between. The pause suggests he is conscious of the stain on his reputation, yet he cannot, or will not, allow that stain to utterly define him. It is a measured defense, inviting others to consider the complexity of his character and life story: one in which artistic achievement, personal tragedy, criminal acts, and enduring infamy are entwined.

There is an undercurrent of persistence, too. By insisting that he “still” has some honor, Polanski asserts a continued humanity, a refusal to be flattened by the most unforgiving narratives. He is not seeking absolution, but instead asking for a recognition that individuals can possess multiple, sometimes conflicting, qualities. Honor here becomes not just a badge of past virtue, but a stubborn remnant of self-respect that survives the damage wrought by lapses, both real and perceived. Through these words, Polanski encapsulates the struggle to maintain one’s essential worth amid scandal and shame, and perhaps the universal wish not to be forever defined by one’s worst moments.