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What on earth did you want with an early Christian…

“What on earth did you want with an early Christian sarcophagus, Elliot?" "To put myself in it, my dear fellow. It was of very good design, and I thought it would balance the font on the other side of the entrance, but those early Christians were stumpy little fellows and I shouldn't have fitted…” quote by W. Somerset Maugham
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““What on earth did you want with an early Christian sarcophagus, Elliot?" "To put myself in it, my dear fellow. It was of very good design, and I thought it would balance the font on the other side of the entrance, but those early Christians were stumpy little fellows and I shouldn't have fitted in. I wasn't going to lie there till the Last Trump with my knees doubled up to my chin like a foetus. Most uncomfortable.””

W. Somerset Maugham

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker jokes about fitting into a tiny early Christian sarcophagus, illustrating absurd self‑sacrifice.

In simple terms: He humorously imagines a cramped, uncomfortable burial.

Key Takeaway

Avoid absurd self‑sacrifice.

Themes

humor absurdity mortality

Mood

wry darkly comic

Type

satirical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • creative writing
  • storytelling
  • theatrical monologue

Key Concepts

self‑deprecation historical curiosity

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does this absurd image reveal about fear of death?
  • How can humor help confront mortality?
A Different Perspective

Humor may mask deeper existential anxieties.

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