Today, shame is everywhere. Three imperatives dominate contemporary society: "Stop being ashamed of yourself!", "There's no such thing as shame anymore!", and "Shame on you!". Each of these represents a specific aspect of shame.
First, there is sadness-shame, which ruins lives and keeps people from experiencing the joys of living. Second, restraint-shame, which tempers enthusiasms, establishes inner order and harmony, structures relations with ourselves and others, and prevents existential chaos. Third comes anger-shame, which provokes indignation, encourages solidarity, and excites our political imagination. "Shame," wrote Marx, "is a revolution in itself."