honestum

Honestum is a Latin term used in classical philosophy and rhetoric to denote the morally proper, decent, or honorable aspect of action. In practical ethics, it is often contrasted with utile (useful) and with iucundum (pleasant). The common pairing honestum et utile expresses the idea that a good action should be both fitting or decent and useful.

Etymology and sense: From honestus meaning honorable, respectable, decent, the neuter noun honestum can mean “the honorable thing” or “propriety”—the aspect of conduct that is appropriate to a person’s role and to social norms. It is not a single virtue but a category of behavior judged by context and audience.

Historical context: In classical sources such as Cicero and Quintilian, honestum is a recurring concept in discussions of duty, decorum, and rhetorical strategy. The term helped frame judgments about what is fitting in social life and speech, shaping debates on virtue and propriety. Through later medieval and scholastic thought, the idea of proprium or decorum carried forward the sense of a morally appropriate action within a given situation, rather than a strictly universal rule.

See also: honor, honesty, decorum, and the Latin phrase honestum et utile, which encapsulates the pairing of propriety and usefulness in ethical evaluation.