Decency
noun
Behaviour that fits with society's general standards of accepted behavior.
She did not have the decency to apologize when she realized she was wrong.
Often appears as...
- common decency
- moral decency
noun
Behaviour that is good, moral and acceptable in society.
It's about time you learned to show some basic decency.
Often appears as...
- basic decency
- human decency
noun
Appropriate, modest or proper clothing.
She barely had the decency to cover herself properly in public.
Often appears as...
- decency of dress
- cover one's decency
noun
Behaviour that fits with society's general standards of accepted behavior.
She did not have the decency to apologize when she realized she was wrong.
Often appears as...
- common decency
- moral decency
noun
Behaviour that is good, moral and acceptable in society.
It's about time you learned to show some basic decency.
Often appears as...
- basic decency
- human decency
noun
Appropriate, modest or proper clothing.
She barely had the decency to cover herself properly in public.
Often appears as...
- decency of dress
- cover one's decency
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Sensitivity
The specifics of 'decency' vary by culture. What's decent in one place might not be in another.
Wearing shorts is against decency in some conservative cultures.
Pro Tip 2/3Neutral Tone
'Decency' is often neutral and factual, not indicating strong emotion.
Everyone expected the decency of a quiet library.
Pro Tip 3/3Subjective Nature
What's considered 'decent behavior' can be subjective and personal.
He felt it wasn't decent to leave without saying goodbye.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Sensitivity
The specifics of 'decency' vary by culture. What's decent in one place might not be in another.
Wearing shorts is against decency in some conservative cultures.
Pro Tip 2/3Neutral Tone
'Decency' is often neutral and factual, not indicating strong emotion.
Everyone expected the decency of a quiet library.
Pro Tip 3/3Subjective Nature
What's considered 'decent behavior' can be subjective and personal.
He felt it wasn't decent to leave without saying goodbye.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Sensitivity
The specifics of 'decency' vary by culture. What's decent in one place might not be in another.
Wearing shorts is against decency in some conservative cultures.
Pro Tip 2/3Neutral Tone
'Decency' is often neutral and factual, not indicating strong emotion.
Everyone expected the decency of a quiet library.
Pro Tip 3/3Subjective Nature
What's considered 'decent behavior' can be subjective and personal.
He felt it wasn't decent to leave without saying goodbye.
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Video examples
Dave Isay: Everyone...
Nobody comes to StoryCorps to get rich. Nobody comes to get famous. It's simply an act of generosity and love. So many of these are just everyday people talking about lives lived with kindness, courage, decency and dignity, and when you hear that kind of story, it can sometimes feel like you're walking on holy ground.
Video examples
More Questions Than...
suggests a level of tolerance for that kind of discussion that-- that is unacceptable by any standard of decency. Well, first of all, this is a department that this council has supported over and over again. This is a police department that has supported you--
Video examples
How to spot a liar PIPE...
So one challenge we have is to remember, oversharing, that's not honesty. Our manic tweeting and texting can blind us to the fact that the subtleties of human decency -- character integrity -- that's still what matters, that's always what's going to matter.
Video examples
How to spot a liar -...
world so one challenge we have is to remember over sharing that's not honesty our matic tweeting and texting can blind us to the fact that the subtleties of human decency character integrity that's still it matters that's always what's going to matter
Video examples
Inside the bizarre world...
Dumb skepticism. So we've ended up in this bizarre dynamic online, where some people see bigoted propaganda as being edgy or being dangerous and cool, and people see basic truth and human decency as pearl-clutching or virtue-signaling or just boring.
Video examples
Steven Pinker and...
and at dinner parties, and influence leaders, legislators, popular opinion. Eventually their conclusions get absorbed into the common sense of decency, erasing the tracks of the original argument that had gotten us there.
Video examples
Jennifer Senior: For...
we just follow the oldest ones in the book -- decency, a work ethic, love — and let happiness and self-esteem take care of themselves. I think if we all did that, the kids would still be all right,
Video examples
A vision for the future...
have no fear I have lived a life I've lived multiple lives in this life is dedicated to service what inspires me is the decency the incredible generosity
Video examples
LA92 Panel - Live PIPE...
any standard of decency well first of all this is a department that this council has supported over and over again this is a police department that has
Video examples
The case for having kids...
with kindness, generosity, decency and love. Thank you.
Video examples
Dave Isay: Everyone...
Nobody comes to StoryCorps to get rich. Nobody comes to get famous. It's simply an act of generosity and love. So many of these are just everyday people talking about lives lived with kindness, courage, decency and dignity, and when you hear that kind of story, it can sometimes feel like you're walking on holy ground.
Video examples
More Questions Than...
suggests a level of tolerance for that kind of discussion that-- that is unacceptable by any standard of decency. Well, first of all, this is a department that this council has supported over and over again. This is a police department that has supported you--
Video examples
How to spot a liar PIPE...
So one challenge we have is to remember, oversharing, that's not honesty. Our manic tweeting and texting can blind us to the fact that the subtleties of human decency -- character integrity -- that's still what matters, that's always what's going to matter.
Video examples
How to spot a liar -...
world so one challenge we have is to remember over sharing that's not honesty our matic tweeting and texting can blind us to the fact that the subtleties of human decency character integrity that's still it matters that's always what's going to matter
Video examples
Inside the bizarre world...
Dumb skepticism. So we've ended up in this bizarre dynamic online, where some people see bigoted propaganda as being edgy or being dangerous and cool, and people see basic truth and human decency as pearl-clutching or virtue-signaling or just boring.
Video examples
Steven Pinker and...
and at dinner parties, and influence leaders, legislators, popular opinion. Eventually their conclusions get absorbed into the common sense of decency, erasing the tracks of the original argument that had gotten us there.
Video examples
Jennifer Senior: For...
we just follow the oldest ones in the book -- decency, a work ethic, love — and let happiness and self-esteem take care of themselves. I think if we all did that, the kids would still be all right,
Video examples
A vision for the future...
have no fear I have lived a life I've lived multiple lives in this life is dedicated to service what inspires me is the decency the incredible generosity
Video examples
LA92 Panel - Live PIPE...
any standard of decency well first of all this is a department that this council has supported over and over again this is a police department that has
Video examples
The case for having kids...
with kindness, generosity, decency and love. Thank you.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Pablo Casals
Spanish Musician
Each person has inside a basic decency and goodness. If he listens to it and acts on it, he is giving a great deal of what it is the world needs most. It is not complicated but it takes courage. It takes courage for a person to listen to his own goodness and act on it.
Quote examples
James E. Faust
American Clergyman
I feel deeply my responsibility to teach sacred things. I am so aware that the world is changing and will be vastly different from the one I have known. Values have shifted. Basic decency and respect for good things are eroding.
Quote examples
Kris Jenner
American Entertainer
I raised my kids kind of old-fashioned - if you don't have something nice to say, then don't say it at all. I teach love, acceptance, and tolerance... I sometimes think that this generation is lacking in decency.
Quote examples
Michelle Obama
American First Lady
We learned about dignity and decency - that how hard you work matters more than how much you make... that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.
Quote examples
Gaby Hoffmann
American Actress
I think being on a set where people aren't being treated as equals, and with just a common level of decency and respect, is really uncomfortable.
Quote examples
Aldous Huxley
English Novelist
The worst enemy of life, freedom and the common decencies is total anarchy; their second worst enemy is total efficiency.
Quote examples
Julie Andrews
English Actress
The arts bridge cultures; they're good for the economy, and they're good for fostering empathy and decency.
Quote examples
Raja Krishnamoorthi
American Businessman
When the norm is decency, other virtues can thrive: integrity, honesty, compassion, kindness, and trust.
Quote examples
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
French Writer
Decency is the least of all laws, but yet it is the law which is most strictly observed.
Quote examples
Gabrielle Union
American Actress
If someone lacked decency or respect, I didn't allow that person to stay in my world.
Quote examples
Pablo Casals
Spanish Musician
Each person has inside a basic decency and goodness. If he listens to it and acts on it, he is giving a great deal of what it is the world needs most. It is not complicated but it takes courage. It takes courage for a person to listen to his own goodness and act on it.
Quote examples
James E. Faust
American Clergyman
I feel deeply my responsibility to teach sacred things. I am so aware that the world is changing and will be vastly different from the one I have known. Values have shifted. Basic decency and respect for good things are eroding.
Quote examples
Kris Jenner
American Entertainer
I raised my kids kind of old-fashioned - if you don't have something nice to say, then don't say it at all. I teach love, acceptance, and tolerance... I sometimes think that this generation is lacking in decency.
Quote examples
Michelle Obama
American First Lady
We learned about dignity and decency - that how hard you work matters more than how much you make... that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.
Quote examples
Gaby Hoffmann
American Actress
I think being on a set where people aren't being treated as equals, and with just a common level of decency and respect, is really uncomfortable.
Quote examples
Aldous Huxley
English Novelist
The worst enemy of life, freedom and the common decencies is total anarchy; their second worst enemy is total efficiency.
Quote examples
Julie Andrews
English Actress
The arts bridge cultures; they're good for the economy, and they're good for fostering empathy and decency.
Quote examples
Raja Krishnamoorthi
American Businessman
When the norm is decency, other virtues can thrive: integrity, honesty, compassion, kindness, and trust.
Quote examples
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
French Writer
Decency is the least of all laws, but yet it is the law which is most strictly observed.
Quote examples
Gabrielle Union
American Actress
If someone lacked decency or respect, I didn't allow that person to stay in my world.
Example 1 of 10
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