Nature knows no indecencies; man invents them.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Twain argues that natural phenomena are not indecent, implying that human societal norms create such labels.
- In plain terms
- Nature is clean; humans make things seem dirty.
- What can you take from it?
- Recognize that shame often comes from culture, not reality.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who decides what is indecent?
- Are human standards arbitrary?
Another view
This view may conflict with religious or cultural views on natural instincts.
More from Mark Twain
Good breeding consists in concealing how much we think of ourselves and how little we think of the other person.
Permalink to quote #120 Death, the only immortal who treats us all alike, whose pity and whose peace and whose refuge are for all - the soiled and the pure, the rich and the poor, the…
Permalink to quote #122 Familiarity breeds contempt - and children.
Permalink to quote #119
Related quotes
Good men make good rhinoceroses, unfortunately.
Eugene IonescoEugene Ionesco quote #6 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 KronenbergerLouis Kronenberger quote #9 Corruption never has been compulsory; when the cities lie at the monster's feet there are left the mountains.
Robinson JeffersRobinson Jeffers quote #18