SCRAP-BOOK, n. A book that is commonly edited by a fool…
“SCRAP-BOOK, n. A book that is commonly edited by a fool. Many persons of some small distinction compile scrap-books containing whatever they happen to read about themselves or employ others to collect. One of these egotists was addressed in the lines following, by Agamemnon Melancthon Peters: Dear Frank, that scrap-book where you boast You keep a record true Of every kind of peppered roast That's made of you; Wherein you paste the printed gibes That revel round your name, Thinking the laughter of the scribes Attests your fame; Where all the pictures you arrange That comic pencils trace -- Your funny figure and your strange Semitic face -- Pray lend it me. Wit I have not, Nor art, but there I'll list The daily drubbings you'd have got Had God a fist.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A satirical definition mocking self‑aggrandizement and vanity, portraying a scrap‑book as a foolish self‑portrait.
In simple terms: Mocking vanity and self‑promotion.
Key Takeaway
Beware self‑obsession.
Themes
vanity
satire
ego
self‑image
Mood
wry
critical
Type
satirical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal branding
- social media
- celebrity culture
- creative writing
Key Concepts
self‑portraiture
humor
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you seek validation through curated images?
- How does satire reveal truth about ego?
A Different Perspective
May overlook genuine achievement.