Affair Quote by Aldous Huxley
“Drinking can not be sacramentalised except in religions which set no store on decorum. The worship of Dionysos or the Celtic god of beer was a loud and disorderly affair.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Perennial Philosophy, 1945
The quote critiques the idea that drinking can be made sacred unless a religion explicitly ignores social decorum, highlighting how historically such rituals were chaotic.
In simple terms: Drinking is only sacred when a religion tolerates disorder.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the social context of rituals.
Themes
ritual
religion
social norms
subversion
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
cultural commentary
When to use this quote
- Festivals
- pub gatherings
- religious ceremonies
- social protests
Key Concepts
Sacredness
cultural relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does decorum shape our perception of sacred acts?
- Can chaos be a form of spirituality?
A Different Perspective
Sacredness can be co-opted for control, limiting genuine expression.
![“I do have a very conscious desire not to be academic. I'm antiacademic. I hate jargon. I hate that sort of pretension. I am a person who [commits] breaches of decorum - not in private life, but in my work. They are part of my mode of operation. That kind of playfulness is part of my nature in…” quote by William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7a8/william-h-gass-4166_academic_i-do-have-a-very-conscious-desire-not-to_472581.jpg)
