Buttons Quote by Bill Bryson
““Even the simplest things had a glorious pointlessness to them. When buttons came in, about 1650, people couldn't get enough of them and arrayed them in decorative profusion on the backs and collars and sleeves of coats, where they didn't actually do anything. One relic of this is the short row of pointless buttons that are still placed on the underside of jacket sleeves near the cuff. These have been purely decorative and have never had a purpose, yet 350 years later on we continue to attach them as if they are the most earnest necessity.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America, 1989
People often create decorative details that serve no practical purpose, yet they persist because of tradition and aesthetic pleasure.
In simple terms: Useless decorations become cherished habits.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate the joy of ornamentation without needing utility.
Themes
aesthetic
tradition
human behavior
culture
design
Mood
nostalgic
reflective
Type
observational
cultural
When to use this quote
- fashion design
- interior décor
- personal accessories
- historical reenactment
Key Concepts
Symbolic meaning
social signaling
historical continuity
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we keep unnecessary decorations?
- What value do they add beyond utility?
A Different Perspective
Such ornamentation can be wasteful or distract from function.
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