Commonly rendered "shame", "modesty" and "respect", "aidos" is one of the most difficult Greek words to translate. In this work, Cairns traces the history and development of this central concept of Greek moral discourse, across the range of Greek literature.

'He has written an important book which worthily extends the work of such writers as Arthur Adkins (Merit and Responsibility, 1960) and Eric Dodds (The Greeks and the Irrational, 1951) ... is scrupulous and acute, and discussion of primary evidence is buttressed by a massive array of well-organised secondary material. The texture of Cairn's scholarship is dense, but his style is clear and direct ... this book is a very distinguished achievement.' Times Higher Education Supplement

'He has written an important book which worthily extends the work of such writers as Arthur Adkins (Merit and Responsibility, 1960) and Eric Dodds (The Greeks and the Irrational, 1951) ... is scrupulous and acute, and discussion of primary evidence is buttressed by a massive array of well-organised secondary material. The texture of Cairn's scholarship is dense, but his style is clear and direct ... this book is a very distinguished achievement.' Times Higher Education Supplement 'long and interesting a book' M.J. Edwards, New College, Oxford, The Classical Review, XLIII, No. 2, 1993 'Cairns's study of the concept of "aidos" is an impressive achievement...conveys a complex impression of an important concept and its operations over a range of authors and contexts, and offers readings of passages and whole works which will need to be taken into account in future discussions.' V J Gray, Prudentia, Vol XXV, No 2 November 1993 `one's final response to this excellent book must be extremely positive, and one may conclude with the hope that Cairns may now turn his attention to such further areas and issues; he has given so much that one longs for more' N.R.E. Fisher, University of Wales, Journal of the History of Behavioral Sciences, Volume 33 (2) Spring 1997