"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
About this Quote
This quote by Louis Kronenberger talks to the concept that in our contemporary society, we have actually become so focused on getting rid of the concept of incorrect pity that we have lost sight of the value of real pity. Incorrect pity is the sort of embarassment that is based upon arbitrary requirements and expectations, such as feeling ashamed for not having the latest fashion or for not having a particular quantity of money. Genuine embarassment, on the other hand, is the kind of shame that is based upon moral and ethical standards, such as feeling embarrassed for lying or for dealing with someone unjustly. By eliminating incorrect pity, we have unintentionally killed off genuine shame as well, which is a bad luck of our time. Genuine embarassment is a vital part of our ethical compass, and without it, we are most likely to make decisions that are not in line with our values.
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