Fifty People Who Declined Honours And Why

Many accept them because they are souless narcissists or they need the acclaim from a socially constructed badge system. Others turn them down because they are far less insecure.

Here are, but some of the latter:

1. David Bowie: The iconic musician declined both a CBE in 2000 and a knighthood in 2003, stating, “I seriously don’t know what it’s for.”
2. John Cleese: The comedian and actor turned down a CBE in 1996, describing the idea of receiving honours from politicians as “silly.”
3. Nigella Lawson: The celebrity chef declined an OBE in 2001, expressing that she did not wish to be seen as endorsing the monarchy.
4. L.S. Lowry: The artist holds the record for the most refusals, having declined honours five times, including a knighthood.
5. Benjamin Zephaniah: The poet publicly rejected an OBE in 2003, citing his opposition to the word “Empire” and its associations with colonialism.
6. Michael Sheen: The Welsh actor returned his OBE in 2020 after researching the history of the relationship between Wales and the British state, feeling it was inappropriate to hold the honour.
7. John Lennon: The Beatles member returned his MBE in 1969 as a form of protest against the UK’s involvement in foreign conflicts.
8. Alan Bennett: The playwright declined a CBE in 1988 and a knighthood in 1996, preferring to remain outside the establishment.
9. Lucian Freud: The renowned artist declined a CBE in 1977 and later a knighthood in 1993, maintaining his preference for privacy.
10. Henry Moore: The sculptor declined a knighthood in 1951, believing that such titles were inappropriate for artists.
11. C.S. Lewis: The author declined a CBE in 1952 to avoid association with any political issues.
12. Paul Weller: The musician declined a CBE in 2006, stating that he had no intention of accepting the honour.
13. Albert Finney: The actor turned down a knighthood in 2000, criticising the honours system as “a disease which perpetuates snobbery.”
14. Ken Loach: The filmmaker declined an OBE in 1977, citing his opposition to the honours system and its ties to the British Empire.
15. Stephen Hawking: The renowned physicist reportedly declined a knighthood in the late 1990s due to the UK’s science funding policies.
16. Doris Lessing: The Nobel Prize-winning author declined a damehood in 1993, stating that there was no reason for her to be honoured.
17. John le Carré: The author declined a CBE in 1997, expressing that he was not suited for such an honour.
18. David Hockney: The artist declined a knighthood in 1990, stating that he did not approve of such honours.
19. John Oliver: The comedian declined an OBE in 2019, questioning the relevance of such honours.
20. Danny Boyle: The filmmaker declined a knighthood in 2013, stating that he preferred to be an equal citizen rather than a sir.
21. Alfred Deakin: The Australian politician declined a knighthood multiple times, believing that politicians should not receive such honours.
22. Rudyard Kipling: The author declined a knighthood in 1899 and again in 1903, feeling that he did not deserve the honour.
23. Robert Graves: The poet and novelist declined a CBE in 1957, feeling that such honours were not suitable for writers.
24. George Bernard Shaw: The playwright declined both a knighthood and the Order of Merit, considering honours incompatible with his socialist beliefs.
25. Philip Larkin: The poet declined the offer of Poet Laureate in 1984, citing his preference for privacy and his health issues.
26. George Orwell: The author reportedly declined an OBE in 1945 due to his opposition to British imperialism.
27. Harold Pinter: The playwright and Nobel laureate declined a knighthood in 1996, stating that it did not align with his personal views.
28. Aldous Huxley: The author of Brave New World declined a knighthood in 1959, maintaining his private stance against state honours.
29. Vanessa Redgrave: The actress turned down a damehood in 1999, citing her political beliefs and opposition to the honours system.
30. Peter O’Toole: The actor declined a knighthood in 1987, stating that he believed he was too young at the time.
31. H.G. Wells: The science fiction author declined a knighthood in 1924 due to his personal opposition to the honours system.
32. J.G. Ballard: The author declined a CBE in 2003, calling the honours system “preposterous” and questioning its validity.
33. Graham Greene: The novelist declined a knighthood in 1956, preferring to avoid association with the establishment.
34. Leonard Woolf: The political theorist and husband of Virginia Woolf declined a Companion of Honour in 1966, adhering to his belief in modesty and equality.
35. T.E. Lawrence: Better known as Lawrence of Arabia, declined a knighthood in 1919, reportedly because of his disillusionment with British imperial policy.
36. Germaine Greer: The feminist writer declined a CBE in 1999, saying she did not wish to be part of the British honours system.
37. Jim Broadbent: The actor declined an OBE in 2002, explaining that he did not feel comfortable accepting such an award.
38. Jonathan Miller: The theatre and opera director turned down a CBE in 2003, claiming he did not “believe in such things.”
39. Paul Dirac: The physicist declined a knighthood in 1953, as he disliked the idea of titles and recognition for his work.
40. Howard Jacobson: The author and broadcaster declined a CBE in 2009, believing that he was already sufficiently honoured by his literary achievements.
41. Mark Rylance: The actor refused a knighthood in 2017, citing his disapproval of government policies.
42. Cecil Day-Lewis: The Poet Laureate from 1968 to 1972 declined a knighthood, preferring to keep his work separate from state honours.
43. David Storey: The playwright and novelist declined an OBE in 1991, expressing no interest in such distinctions.
44. Gareth Edwards: The Welsh rugby legend declined a knighthood, reportedly for personal reasons, preferring to maintain a lower profile.
45. Ralph Vaughan Williams: The composer declined a knighthood in 1929, believing that art should not be tied to state recognition.
46. Michael Foot: The Labour politician declined a knighthood, staying true to his republican and egalitarian principles.
47. Rabindranath Tagore: The Nobel Prize-winning poet and philosopher renounced his knighthood in 1919 as a protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in India.
48. Albert Einstein: The renowned physicist declined offers of various honours, including a knighthood, preferring to avoid titles and recognition tied to state institutions.
49. Ken Robinson: The renowned educationist declined a knighthood in 2003, believing that such honours conflicted with his views on egalitarianism and meritocracy.
50. Stanley Kubrick: The legendary filmmaker declined a knighthood in 1975, preferring to maintain his privacy and avoid public accolades.

Let us celebrate those who have the self-awareness and ethical prowess to say ‘NO’.