Degradation (n.) is a rope fraying in the middle while both ends still look fine.
Degradation (n.) happens to a river slowly enough that each generation thinks the dirty one is normal.
Degradation (n.) takes far less than anyone expects and far longer than that to undo.
Degradation (n.) works by getting the person to agree, in small steps, that the treatment fits them.
Embarrassment (n.) follows a great event that brings the soul of a man or a nation to light — then comes the need for some childishness or coarseness, as much from embarrassment as for recovery.
Embarrassment (n.) is like a sunburn, arriving hours after the thing that caused it felt pleasant
Embarrassment (n.) is why a man will circle the block rather than park while people watch.
Embarrassment (n.) lasts about a minute for the room and about a decade for the person who felt it
Humiliation (n.) is a fact of life — God always has another custard pie up his sleeve.
Humiliation (n.) is contant in life — Life is a long lesson in humility.
Humiliation (n.) is not a bad thing in the long run — where there is no shame, there is no honor
Humiliation (n.) is a vast country of imprecise boundaries.
Losing face (n.) is the bill for caring what they think.
Losing face (n.) is like a chipped plate, still usable and never used again
Losing face (n.) hurts most in front of the people who will never mention it again
Losing face (n.) is social death with the body still at the table.