---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who bequeath unto themselves a…"
description: "\"Those who bequeath unto themselves a pompous funeral, are at just so much expense to inform the world of something that had much better be concealed; n..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/charles-caleb-colton-270_concealed_those-who-bequeath-unto-themselves-a-pom_782530.png"
---

#  Those who bequeath unto themselves a pompous funeral, are…

![“Those who bequeath unto themselves a pompous funeral, are at just so much expense to inform the world of something that had much better be concealed; namely, that their vanity has survived themselves.” quote by Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/charles-caleb-colton-270_concealed_those-who-bequeath-unto-themselves-a-pom_782530.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/charles-caleb-colton-270_concealed_those-who-bequeath-unto-themselves-a-pom_782530.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/charles-caleb-colton-270_concealed_those-who-bequeath-unto-themselves-a-pom_782530.png)

> “Those who bequeath unto themselves a pompous funeral, are at just so much expense to inform the world of something that had much better be concealed; namely, that their vanity has survived themselves.”

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

## About This Quote

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

People spend lavishly on funerals to display vanity, revealing their desire for posthumous recognition.

**In simple terms:** Lavish funerals show vanity.

Key Takeaway

Avoid wasteful displays of ego.

Themes

vanity mortality legacy pride

Mood

reflective critical

Type

moral philosophical

When to use this quote

- planning a funeral
- budgeting personal image
- media coverage of death

Key Concepts

social status self‑image cultural rituals

Questions to Reflect On

- What does your funeral say about you?
- How can we honor lives without ostentatious expense?

A Different Perspective

May distract from genuine remembrance of the deceased.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Funeral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funeral/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [I will miss my pal Dominick Dunne. I am sure his funeral will be just the sort of event he would have loved. Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-abrams/i-will-miss-my-pal-dominick-dunne-i-am-sure-his-funeral-will-be-just/)

[Dan Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-abrams/)

> [Michael died five years ago this January, and the first thing that really struck me about the script was the part about her peeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/michael-died-five-years-ago-this-january-and-the-first-thing-that/)

[Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/)

> [You only get one shot at this life. Some days you'll fly and some days you'll fall. Live so when your toes turn up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uncle-phil/you-only-get-one-shot-at-this-life-some-days-you-ll-fly-and-some-days/)

[Uncle Phil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uncle-phil/)

> [Did you ever wish you could die, but be alive at your funeral. Just to see who would be there, just to see who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrfrankocean/did-you-ever-wish-you-could-die-but-be-alive-at-your-funeral-just-to/)

MrFrankOcean

> [“Unless I’m dead, I’ll definitely be at your funeral. Just be sure to return the favor and show up at mine. Your death will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/unless-i-m-dead-i-ll-definitely-be-at-your-funeral-just-be-sure-to/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [In the city a funeral is just an interruption of traffic; in the country it is a form of popular entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/in-the-city-a-funeral-is-just-an-interruption-of-traffic-in-the-2/)

[George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/)

> [When I die, now don't think that I'm a nut, don't want no fancy funeral, just one like old King Tut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/when-i-die-now-don-t-think-that-i-m-a-nut-don-t-want-no-fancy-funeral/)

[Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/)

> [You don't want to be like the motion picture exec who had so many people at his funeral, but they were there just make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/you-don-t-want-to-be-like-the-motion-picture-exec-who-had-so-many/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [“In the city a funeral is just an interruption of traffic; in the country it is a form of entertainment. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/in-the-city-a-funeral-is-just-an-interruption-of-traffic-in-the/)

[George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/)

> [Sad songs at my funeral would be just so depressing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-dimoldenberg/sad-songs-at-my-funeral-would-be-just-so-depressing/)

[Amelia Dimoldenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-dimoldenberg/)

> [Anyone who thinks they're important is usually just a pompous moron who can't deal with his or her own pathetic insignificance and the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-thomas/anyone-who-thinks-they-re-important-is-usually-just-a-pompous-moron/)

[William Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-thomas/)

> [One thing is certain: the humility of faith, if it is followed by the proper consequences-by the acceptance of the work and sacrifice demanded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/one-thing-is-certain-the-humility-of-faith-if-it-is-followed-by-the/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [Prison is a crash course in the darker side of life. Few survive it without becoming a different person: more cynical, jaded, fearful, angry.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/prison-is-a-crash-course-in-the-darker-side-of-life-few-survive-it/)

[Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/)

> [I found so-called great art too pompous, too stiff. What at this time was called minor art was freer, more imaginative, more open to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lipchitz/i-found-so-called-great-art-too-pompous-too-stiff-what-at-this-time/)

[Jacques Lipchitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lipchitz/)

> [Man is a noble animal, splendid in ashes, and pompous in the grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/man-is-a-noble-animal-splendid-in-ashes-and-pompous-in-the-grave/)

[Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/)

## More by Charles Caleb Colton

> [Villainy that is vigilant will be an overmatch for virtue, if she slumber at her post.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/villainy-that-is-vigilant-will-be-an-overmatch-for-virtue-if-she/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [A beautiful woman, if poor, should use double circumspection; for her beauty will tempt others, her poverty herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-beautiful-woman-if-poor-should-use-double-circumspection-for-her/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Were the life of man prolonged, he would become such a proficient in villainy, that it would become necessary again to drown or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/were-the-life-of-man-prolonged-he-would-become-such-a-proficient-in/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [To dare to live alone is the rarest courage; since there are many who had rather meet their bitterest enemy in the field, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/to-dare-to-live-alone-is-the-rarest-courage-since-there-are-many-who/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [It is doubtful whether mankind are most indebted to those who like Bacon and Butler dig the gold from the mine of literature, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/it-is-doubtful-whether-mankind-are-most-indebted-to-those-who-like/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. Where one has been saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/be-very-slow-to-believe-that-you-are-wiser-than-all-others-it-is-a/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [None are so fond of secrets as those who do not mean to keep them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/none-are-so-fond-of-secrets-as-those-who-do-not-mean-to-keep-them/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Mental pleasures never cloy; unlike those of the body, they are increased by reputation, approved by reflection, and strengthened by enjoyment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/mental-pleasures-never-cloy-unlike-those-of-the-body-they-are/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Ignorance lies at the bottom of all human knowledge, and the deeper we penetrate, the nearer we arrive unto it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/ignorance-lies-at-the-bottom-of-all-human-knowledge-and-the-deeper-we/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Heroism, self-denial, and magnanimity, in all instances where they do not spring from a principle of religion, are but splendid altars on which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/heroism-self-denial-and-magnanimity-in-all-instances-where-they-do/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [We ought not to be over-anxious to encourage innovation in cases of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two advantages over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-ought-not-to-be-over-anxious-to-encourage-innovation-in-cases-of/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [We owe almost all our knowledge not to those who have agreed, but to those who have differed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-owe-almost-all-our-knowledge-not-to-those-who-have-agreed-but-to/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Metaphysicians have been learning their lessons for the last four thousand years, and it is high time that they should now begin to teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/metaphysicians-have-been-learning-their-lessons-for-the-last-four/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Faith and works are necessary to our spiritual life as Christians, as soul and body are to our natural life as men; for faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/faith-and-works-are-necessary-to-our-spiritual-life-as-christians-as/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [When all moves equally (says Pascal), nothing seems to move as in a vessel under sail; and when all run by common consent into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/when-all-moves-equally-says-pascal-nothing-seems-to-move-as-in-a/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

[Explore all 778 Charles Caleb Colton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

## More Concealed quotes

> [The grain of real knowledge is concealed in a vast deal of esoteric chaff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-rupert-hall/the-grain-of-real-knowledge-is-concealed-in-a-vast-deal-of-esoteric/)

Alfred Rupert Hall

> [Cold calculation, random spots of color, mathematically exact construction (clearly shown or concealed), drawing that is now silent and now strident . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-puccini/cold-calculation-random-spots-of-color-mathematically-exact/)

[Giacomo Puccini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-puccini/)

> [A sin concealed is half-pardoned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italian-proverb/a-sin-concealed-is-half-pardoned/)

Italian Proverb

> [“People who have attended Concealed Carry classes, and those already licensed, typically seem to demonstrate a higher degree of courtesy, responsibility and respect. Interestingly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-behr/people-who-have-attended-concealed-carry-classes-and-those-already/)

[Gary Behr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-behr/)

> [Whoever says State necessarily says domination, and, consequently, slavery; a State without slavery, open or concealed, is inconceivable: that is why we are enemies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/whoever-says-state-necessarily-says-domination-and-consequently/)

[Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/)

> [Look into any man's heart you please, and you will always find, in every one, at least one black spot which he has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/look-into-any-man-s-heart-you-please-and-you-will-always-find-in/)

[Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/)

> [“E liza adjusted her Ministry-issue bullet-resistant corset, and her hands absently came to rest on where her weapons were concealed. Glancing out the window,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-ballantine/e-liza-adjusted-her-ministry-issue-bullet-resistant-corset-and-her/)

[Philippa Ballantine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-ballantine/)

> [there are few things that are more endearing than the grace of listening with attention; indeed, it is more than endearing, it is impressive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/there-are-few-things-that-are-more-endearing-than-the-grace-of/)

[Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/)

> [I don't care if they're licensed legal firearms, people who are not highly trained putting guns in their hands is a recipe for disaster.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-mccarthy/i-don-t-care-if-they-re-licensed-legal-firearms-people-who-are-not/)

Garry McCarthy

> [Fear is concealed in smiles and flashing teeth. 'Please say you still love me,' the kings and queens are really saying. And, when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/fear-is-concealed-in-smiles-and-flashing-teeth-please-say-you-still/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [If the art is concealed, it succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/if-the-art-is-concealed-it-succeeds/)

[Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/)

> [Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed forever. You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/thoughtcrime-was-not-a-thing-that-could-be-concealed-forever-you/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [Recently I was reading somewhere or other an Italian curio-dealer who attempted to sell a 17th century crucifix to J.P. Morgan. Inside it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/recently-i-was-reading-somewhere-or-other-an-italian-curio-dealer-who/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [Covering the civil-rights movement was a mind- and eye-opener for me. Houston was a segregated society, as was Texas as a whole - some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/covering-the-civil-rights-movement-was-a-mind-and-eye-opener-for-me/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [You kids have fun, and be home by Thanksgiving!" our parents would call to us on Halloween night, as we staggered out the front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/you-kids-have-fun-and-be-home-by-thanksgiving-our-parents-would-call/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

Browse all 332 Concealed quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Those who bequeath unto themselves a pompous funeral, are at just so much expense to inform the world of something that had much better be concealed; namely, that their vanity has survived themselves.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles Caleb Colton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/those-who-bequeath-unto-themselves-a-pompous-funeral-are-at-just-so/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Concealed"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/those-who-bequeath-unto-themselves-a-pompous-funeral-are-at-just-so/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/charles-caleb-colton-270_concealed_those-who-bequeath-unto-themselves-a-pom_782530.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/charles-caleb-colton-270_concealed_those-who-bequeath-unto-themselves-a-pom_782530.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/charles-caleb-colton-270_concealed_those-who-bequeath-unto-themselves-a-pom_782530.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Those who bequeath unto themselves a pompous funeral, are at just so much expense to inform the world of…” — Charles Caleb Colton",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Charles Caleb Colton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Those who bequeath unto themselves a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/those-who-bequeath-unto-themselves-a-pompous-funeral-are-at-just-so/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/those-who-bequeath-unto-themselves-a-pompous-funeral-are-at-just-so/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```