"What is called for is dignity. We need to set an example"
About this Quote
The phrasing is deliberately plain. “What is called for” sounds almost bureaucratic, like a memo, which is the point: it drains emotion out of a moment that likely wants to overflow with it. In football culture, that kind of understatement is a power move. It says, we’re not going to feed the circus. “We need” turns it from personal virtue into collective obligation. No one gets to opt out. It’s a dressing-room sentence: short, firm, built to travel.
Then there’s the kicker: “set an example.” Dalglish isn’t just talking to players; he’s talking to a wider ecosystem - fans, media, club staff, maybe even rival supporters. The subtext is reputational triage: football is always one scandal away from being reduced to a stereotype, and “example” is a demand to be bigger than the moment. It’s also a subtle assertion of leadership. When you call for dignity, you’re positioning yourself as the person who defines what dignity looks like - and who gets to police it.
Quote Details
| Topic | Leadership |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Dalglish, Kenny. (2026, January 16). What is called for is dignity. We need to set an example. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/what-is-called-for-is-dignity-we-need-to-set-an-101789/
Chicago Style
Dalglish, Kenny. "What is called for is dignity. We need to set an example." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/what-is-called-for-is-dignity-we-need-to-set-an-101789/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"What is called for is dignity. We need to set an example." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/what-is-called-for-is-dignity-we-need-to-set-an-101789/. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.





