A confession is a statement made by a person acknowledging some personal fact that the person would prefer to keep hidden. The term is generally associated with an admission of a moral or legal wrong. A legal confession is an admission of some wrongdoing that has legal consequence, while a confession in religion is usually more akin to a ritual by which the person acknowledges thoughts or actions considered sinful or morally wrong within the confines of the confessor's religion. Socially, however, the term may refer to admissions that are neither legally nor religiously significant. For example, a person might "confess" to their peer group that they enjoy a particular reality TV show, or that they ate the last piece of cheesecake.
The term derives from "something (“ion”) spoken (“fess”) in the presence of or with (“con”) someone else".
Famous quotes containing the word confession:
“Modesty is the lowest of the virtues, and is a real confession of the deficiency it indicates. He who undervalues himself is justly undervalued by others.”
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830)
“There is confession in the glances of our eyes; in our smiles; in salutations; and the grasp of hands.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“The glance is natural magic. The mysterious communication established across a house between two entire strangers, moves all the springs of wonder. The communication by the glance is in the greatest part not subject to the control of the will. It is the bodily symbol of identity with nature. We look into the eyes to know if this other form is another self, and the eyes will not lie, but make a faithful confession what inhabitant is there.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)