Chaperons don't enforce morality; they force immorality to be discreet.

Martin’s epigram targets the social function of the chaperon as a mechanism of appearances rather than ethics. The presence of a watchful third party may curb overt behavior, but it does not necessarily change desires or intentions; instead, it shifts conduct into less visible channels. In etiquette terms, the line suggests that “propriety” is often about managing public perception—maintaining plausible deniability and protecting reputations—more than cultivating virtue. The quote also reflects Martin’s broader satirical stance: she treats many moralized social rules as pragmatic tools for navigating status, scandal, and gossip, not as reliable instruments for improving character.