As to going home, shame opposed the best motions that offered to my thoughts; and it immediately occurred to me how I should be laughed at among the neighbours, and should be ashamed to see, not my father and mother only, but even everybody else; from whence I have since often observed how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind is, especially of youth, viz., that they are not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed to repent; nor ashamed for the action for which they ought justly to be esteemed fools, but are ashamed of the returning, which only can make make them be esteemed wise men (emphasis mine).
~ Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
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