--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Embalming was like . . . I don't know how…" description: "\"“Embalming was like . . . I don't know how to describe it. It was like playing with a giant doll, dressing it and bathing it and opening it up to see w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/dan-wells-2142_doll_embalming-was-like-i-don-t-know-how-to-d_963278.png" --- # Embalming was like . . . I don't know how to describe it… ![“Embalming was like . . . I don't know how to describe it. It was like playing with a giant doll, dressing it and bathing it and opening it up to see what was inside.” quote by Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/dan-wells-2142_doll_embalming-was-like-i-don-t-know-how-to-d_963278.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/dan-wells-2142_doll_embalming-was-like-i-don-t-know-how-to-d_963278.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b8/dan-wells-2142_doll_embalming-was-like-i-don-t-know-how-to-d_963278.png) > ““Embalming was like . . . I don't know how to describe it. It was like playing with a giant doll, dressing it and bathing it and opening it up to see what was inside.”” [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describing embalming as handling a giant doll reveals the eerie intimacy of preserving a body. **In simple terms:** Embalming feels like caring for a large, lifeless doll. Key Takeaway Respect the dignity of the deceased while confronting mortality. Themes mortality care intimacy Mood somber thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - funeral services - medical training - artistic representation - personal grief Key Concepts ethical practice psychology Questions to Reflect On - What emotions arise when confronting death? - How does language shape our perception of mortality? A Different Perspective The metaphor may distance emotional reality of death. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doll/) [Doll Dressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doll-dressing-1797200/) [Embalming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embalming/) [Embalming Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embalming-like-1797198/) [Giant Doll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giant-doll-1797199/) ## Related quotes > [As for Gussie Finknottle, many an experienced undertaker would have been deceived by his appearance and started embalming on sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-for-gussie-finknottle-many-an-experienced-undertaker-would-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wish it were possible, from this instance, to invent a method of embalming drowned persons in such a manner that they may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-wish-it-were-possible-from-this-instance-to-invent-a-method-of/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Left to their own devices, human bodies rot, decompose, come apart, and sink gloriously back into the earth from whence they came. Using embalming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-doughty/left-to-their-own-devices-human-bodies-rot-decompose-come-apart-and/) [Caitlin Doughty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-doughty/) > [On 'Six Feet Under,' I never really had much to do with the actual business, with the embalming stuff. That wasn't really my role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ambrose/on-six-feet-under-i-never-really-had-much-to-do-with-the-actual/) [Lauren Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ambrose/) > [The Egyptians had a particularly nasty way of getting rid of people they felt had no consequence. Instead of embalming them, they simply constructed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-brass/the-egyptians-had-a-particularly-nasty-way-of-getting-rid-of-people/) [Perry Brass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-brass/) > [Paperwork is the embalming fluid of bureaucracy, maintaining an appearance of life where none exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-meltzer/paperwork-is-the-embalming-fluid-of-bureaucracy-maintaining-an/) [Robert H. Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-meltzer/) > [Nothing is more detestable to the physical anthropologist than... the wretched habit of cremating the dead. It involves not only a prodigal waste of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earnest-hooton/nothing-is-more-detestable-to-the-physical-anthropologist-than-the/) [Earnest Hooton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earnest-hooton/) > [Indians do not hinder the progress of their dead by embalming or tight coffining. When the spirit has gone they give the body back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/indians-do-not-hinder-the-progress-of-their-dead-by-embalming-or/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [I have one last request. Don't use embalming fluid on me; I want to be stuffed with crab meat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-have-one-last-request-don-t-use-embalming-fluid-on-me-i-want-to-be/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [The race of prophets is extinct. Europe is becoming set in its ways, slowly embalming itself beneath the wrappings of its borders, its factories,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-artaud/the-race-of-prophets-is-extinct-europe-is-becoming-set-in-its-ways/) [Antonin Artaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-artaud/) > [The corpse of friendship is not worth embalming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-corpse-of-friendship-is-not-worth-embalming/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [“The strategic problem is, of course, that simulacra are reassuring only when viewed from outside. They do not provide an existential model for how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bernheimer/the-strategic-problem-is-of-course-that-simulacra-are-reassuring-only/) [Charles Bernheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bernheimer/) > [To waste! You are unknown and unwanted, save by me. This, because you are fairly adept at the various embalming arts and you occasionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/to-waste-you-are-unknown-and-unwanted-save-by-me-this-because-you-are/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [Presidential ambition is a disease that can only be cured by embalming fluid .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/presidential-ambition-is-a-disease-that-can-only-be-cured-by/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I have a twelve year old sex doll. Brand new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-a-twelve-year-old-sex-doll-brand-new/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) ## More by Dan Wells > [“I’ve picked a side,” she said darkly. “And everyone’s on it. And that’s exactly who I’m going to save.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/i-ve-picked-a-side-she-said-darkly-and-everyone-s-on-it-and-that-s/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“I had called Brooke 'it'. That was stupid. That was...horrifying. I was better than that... ...Calling human beings 'it' was a common trait of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/i-had-called-brooke-it-that-was-stupid-that-was-horrifying-i-was/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“You're talking to me and I'm not scary." Said Kira. "Yes you are!" said Afa.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/you-re-talking-to-me-and-i-m-not-scary-said-kira-yes-you-are-said-afa/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“Curing RM is in the realm of magical pixies and talking dogs that piss whiskey. It's impossible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/curing-rm-is-in-the-realm-of-magical-pixies-and-talking-dogs-that/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“She thought no one could see her. I thought she was beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/she-thought-no-one-could-see-her-i-thought-she-was-beautiful/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [Facts are too busy being true to worry about how you feel about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/facts-are-too-busy-being-true-to-worry-about-how-you-feel-about-them/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [My wit is like your legs," said Xochi. " It would be selfish of me to keep it hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/my-wit-is-like-your-legs-said-xochi-it-would-be-selfish-of-me-to-keep/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“If you can’t know the truth,” said Isolde, “live the most awesome lie you can think of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/if-you-can-t-know-the-truth-said-isolde-live-the-most-awesome-lie-you/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“Skousen remembered a world falling apart. Kira remembered a world pulling together to save itself. That was the difference. That was why Skousen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/skousen-remembered-a-world-falling-apart-kira-remembered-a-world/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“Finally Marcus stepped forward. "If you insist on going through me to get him, it's your call. But I warn you, I will probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/finally-marcus-stepped-forward-if-you-insist-on-going-through-me-to/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [Fear is a ... it's a weird thing, when you think about it. People are only afraid of other things, they're never afraid of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/fear-is-a-it-s-a-weird-thing-when-you-think-about-it-people-are-only/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“We're taking you to the hospital,' it said, 'you're going into shock. Can you tell us how you feel?' 'I feel ...' What do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/we-re-taking-you-to-the-hospital-it-said-you-re-going-into-shock-can/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [I stared at her closely, studying her face, her eyes, everything. This was the angel that tamed a demon; the soul that trapped him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/i-stared-at-her-closely-studying-her-face-her-eyes-everything-this/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [“So, your plan is to murder a superior enemy army," said Tovar, "and then outrun the wind. I'm glad it's so simple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/so-your-plan-is-to-murder-a-superior-enemy-army-said-tovar-and-then/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) > [Love's not the point. We just do what we always do, and we get by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wells/love-s-not-the-point-we-just-do-what-we-always-do-and-we-get-by/) [Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) [Explore all 175 Dan Wells quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wells/) ## More Doll quotes > [I have a twelve year old sex doll. Brand new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-a-twelve-year-old-sex-doll-brand-new/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [To be honest with you, Conor McGregor at 170, I think he's just going to be thrown around like a little rag doll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/to-be-honest-with-you-conor-mcgregor-at-170-i-think-he-s-just-going/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [The first 10 years of a girls life is spent playing with barbies & the next 10 years are spent trying to look like one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-first-10-years-of-a-girls-life-is-spent-playing-with-barbies-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always loved putting on shows - when you're the youngest of seven and five are older sisters, you've got to get noticed somehow!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/i-always-loved-putting-on-shows-when-you-re-the-youngest-of-seven-and/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [I will try to make a doll of Oksana with a little dog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oksana-baiul/i-will-try-to-make-a-doll-of-oksana-with-a-little-dog/) [Oksana Baiul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oksana-baiul/) > [When I was a kid, I had a rag doll named Lucy, whom I took everywhere with me. I lost her when I was 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camilla-luddington/when-i-was-a-kid-i-had-a-rag-doll-named-lucy-whom-i-took-everywhere/) [Camilla Luddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camilla-luddington/) > [“One day the Barbie without a head convinced Donny and Marie to put pink and blue Life pegs through the holes in their hands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-ribon/one-day-the-barbie-without-a-head-convinced-donny-and-marie-to-put/) [Pamela Ribon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-ribon/) > [Now a doll found naked in a ditch eyes rusted open, is blasphemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-digges/now-a-doll-found-naked-in-a-ditch-eyes-rusted-open-is-blasphemy/) [Deborah Digges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-digges/) > [“The little girl expects no declaration of tenderness from her doll. She loves it, & that's all. It is thus that we should love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remy-de-gourmont/the-little-girl-expects-no-declaration-of-tenderness-from-her-doll/) [Remy de Gourmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remy-de-gourmont/) > [“I'll tell u boys it's tough to be alone, and it's tough to love a doll that's not ur own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller-aka-willy-loman/i-ll-tell-u-boys-it-s-tough-to-be-alone-and-it-s-tough-to-love-a-doll/) [Arthur Miller- aka Willy Loman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller-aka-willy-loman/) > [If I really like the smell of something - a piece of tar or my goddaughter's plastic doll - I put a tiny piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mika/if-i-really-like-the-smell-of-something-a-piece-of-tar-or-my/) [Mika](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mika/) > [The first 10 years a of a girls life they play with barbies the next 10 they try to look like one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/the-first-10-years-a-of-a-girls-life-they-play-with-barbies-the-next/) [Author Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/author-name/) > [Nothing scares me more than people with some doll collection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/nothing-scares-me-more-than-people-with-some-doll-collection/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [Sophie is asking mum ‘Why am I NOT a doll NOT an adult NOT a boy NOT a giraffe?’ It’s so easy to miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-caine/sophie-is-asking-mum-why-am-i-not-a-doll-not-an-adult-not-a-boy-not-a/) [Christine Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-caine/) > [“Afterward I could not help admiring the discrimination of the host and hostess in the distribution of the children’s presents. The little girl, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/afterward-i-could-not-help-admiring-the-discrimination-of-the-host/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Browse all 331 Doll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doll/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Embalming was like . . . I don't know how to describe it. 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