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About this quote

What does it mean?
Act with nobility regardless of how others treat you, expecting no reward.
In plain terms
Be good to people even if they are bad to you.
What can you take from it?
Maintain your standards without expecting return.

Where it applies

  • handling conflict
  • ethical dilemmas

Putting it to work

  • respond with grace
  • set high personal standards

Questions to consider

  • How do you respond to disrespect?
  • What standards do you hold regardless of others?

Another view

Constantly returning nobility for ignobility may invite exploitation.

More from Jean Cocteau

  1. Allow the power of the soul to grow as flagrant as the power of sex.

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  2. Hate only hatred.

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  3. Do not close the circle. Leave it open. Descartes closes the circle. Pascal leaves it open. Rousseau's triumph over the encyclopedists is to have left his circ…

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