Who said “The basis of shame is not some personal mistake of ours, but the ignominy, the…”?

Verified

Milan Kundera. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceImmortality (1988)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“The basis of shame is not some personal mistake of ours, but the ignominy, the humiliation we feel that we must be what we are without any choice in the matter, and that this humiliation is seen by everyone.”
VerifiedImmortality (1988) · evidenceShame

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Immortality (1988).

APA

Kundera, M. (n.d.). The basis of shame is not some personal mistake of ours, but the ignominy, the humiliation we feel that we must be what we are without any choice in the matter, and that this humiliation is seen by everyone. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/37836-the-basis-of-shame-is-not-some-personal/

MLA

Kundera, Milan. “The basis of shame is not some personal mistake of ours, but the ignominy, the humiliation we feel that we must be what we are without any choice in the matter, and that this humiliation is seen by everyone.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/37836-the-basis-of-shame-is-not-some-personal/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Kundera, Milan. “The basis of shame is not some personal mistake of ours, but the ignominy, the humiliation we feel that we must be what we are without any choice in the matter, and that this humiliation is seen by everyone.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/37836-the-basis-of-shame-is-not-some-personal/.