--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mr. Herriton, don’t – please, Mr…" description: "\"“Mr. Herriton, don’t – please, Mr. Herriton – a dentist. His father’s a dentist.” Philip gave a cry of personal disgust and pain. He shuddered all over..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7b/e-m-forster-2-1148_dentist_mr-herriton-don-t-please-mr-herriton-a-d_2101919.jpg" --- # Mr. Herriton, don’t – please, Mr. Herriton – a dentist… ![“Mr. Herriton, don’t – please, Mr. Herriton – a dentist. His father’s a dentist.” Philip gave a cry of personal disgust and pain. He shuddered all over, and edged away from his companion. A dentist! A dentist at Monteriano. A dentist in fairyland! False teeth and laughing gas and the tilting chair…” quote by E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7b/e-m-forster-2-1148_dentist_mr-herriton-don-t-please-mr-herriton-a-d_2101919.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7b/e-m-forster-2-1148_dentist_mr-herriton-don-t-please-mr-herriton-a-d_2101919.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7b/e-m-forster-2-1148_dentist_mr-herriton-don-t-please-mr-herriton-a-d_2101919.jpg) > ““Mr. Herriton, don’t – please, Mr. Herriton – a dentist. His father’s a dentist.” Philip gave a cry of personal disgust and pain. He shuddered all over, and edged away from his companion. A dentist! A dentist at Monteriano. A dentist in fairyland! False teeth and laughing gas and the tilting chair at a place which knew the Etruscan League, and the Pax Romana, and Alaric himself, and the Countess Matilda, and the Middle Ages, all fighting and holiness, and the Renaissance, all fighting and beauty! He thought of Lilia no longer. He was anxious for himself: he feared that Romance might die.”” [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator’s disgust at a dentist reflects broader anxieties about modernity, history, and personal fear of loss. **In simple terms:** Dentist triggers fear of change and loss. Key Takeaway Confront fears linked to change and history. Themes fear modernity history Mood reflective literary Type fiction philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - career - health - cultural adaptation Key Concepts anxiety personal crisis Questions to Reflect On - What modern changes cause you anxiety? - How do you face personal fears? A Different Perspective Fear can be irrational and paralyzing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dentist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dentist/) [Dentist Fairyland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dentist-fairyland-4203317/) [Dentist Philip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dentist-philip-4203316/) [Disgust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disgust/) [False Teeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/false-teeth-840640/) [Feared Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feared-romance-4203318/) [Herriton Dentist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/herriton-dentist-4203315/) [Italy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/italy/) [Middle ages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-ages/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) ## Related quotes > [“An elderly man called Keith Mislaid his set of false teeth— They’d been laid on a chair, He’d forgot they were there, Sat down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-thompson/an-elderly-man-called-keith-mislaid-his-set-of-false-teeth-they-d/) [Janice Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-thompson/) > [“She had the kind of legs that make an old man's false teeth rattle when they're still in the glass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cambou/she-had-the-kind-of-legs-that-make-an-old-man-s-false-teeth-rattle/) [Don Cambou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cambou/) > [You're like a false teeth I can't smile without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-like-a-false-teeth-i-can-t-smile-without-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'm thirty-nine years old. I've got a wife that I can't get rid of. I've got varicose veins. I've got five false teeth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/i-m-thirty-nine-years-old-i-ve-got-a-wife-that-i-can-t-get-rid-of-i/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [So who's perfect? ... Washington had false teeth. Franklin was nearsighted. Mussolini had syphilis. Unpleasant things have been said about Walt Whitman and Oscar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-hara/so-who-s-perfect-washington-had-false-teeth-franklin-was-nearsighted/) [John O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-hara/) > [You might be a redneck if the highlight of your parties is when you flip out your false teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/you-might-be-a-redneck-if-the-highlight-of-your-parties-is-when-you/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [I don't have false teeth. Do you think I'd buy teeth like these?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/i-don-t-have-false-teeth-do-you-think-i-d-buy-teeth-like-these/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [“Dream about me while you're in school." "Would that be with or without your false teeth?" He gave me a slow wink. "They're fangs."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-b-jones/dream-about-me-while-you-re-in-school-would-that-be-with-or-without/) [Jenny B. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-b-jones/) > [I read anything that’s going to be interesting. But you don’t know what it is until you’ve read it. Somewhere in a book on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-read-anything-that-s-going-to-be-interesting-but-you-don-t-know/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [My father made false teeth. Unfortunately, during the Depression, not many people could afford them, and my parents lost their home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-feldstein/my-father-made-false-teeth-unfortunately-during-the-depression-not/) [Al Feldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-feldstein/) > [People think my friend George is weird because he wears sideburns...behind his ears. I think he's weird because he wears false teeth...with braces on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/people-think-my-friend-george-is-weird-because-he-wears-sideburns/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Be careful that you don't lose your false teeth when you go to blow out all 50 candles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-careful-that-you-don-t-lose-your-false-teeth-when-you-go-to-blow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Whenever they are condemning weaves or breast implants, some people speak so passionately that their false teeth almost fall out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/whenever-they-are-condemning-weaves-or-breast-implants-some-people/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [The new friends whom we make after attaining a certain age and by whom we would fain replace those whom we have lost, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/the-new-friends-whom-we-make-after-attaining-a-certain-age-and-by/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [The idea really came to me the day I got my new false teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-idea-really-came-to-me-the-day-i-got-my-new-false-teeth/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) ## More by E.M. Forster > [“She gave up trying to understand herself, and the vast armies of the benighted, who follow neither the heart nor the brain, and march…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/she-gave-up-trying-to-understand-herself-and-the-vast-armies-of-the/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [“They had tried to reproduce their own attitude to life upon the stage, and to dress up as the middle-class English people they actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/they-had-tried-to-reproduce-their-own-attitude-to-life-upon-the-stage/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [“I believe in aristocracy, though -- if that is the right word, and if a democrat may use it. Not an aristocracy of power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/i-believe-in-aristocracy-though-if-that-is-the-right-word-and-if-a/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [“Oh, what's the use of your fairmindedness if you never decide for yourself? Anyone gets hold of you and makes you do what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/oh-what-s-the-use-of-your-fairmindedness-if-you-never-decide-for/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [“You mean that a Frenchman could share with a friend and yet not go to prison?’ ‘Share? Do you mean unite? If both are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/you-mean-that-a-frenchman-could-share-with-a-friend-and-yet-not-go-to/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [“Margaret realized the chaotic nature of our daily life, and its difference from the orderly sequence that has been fabricated by historians. Actual life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/margaret-realized-the-chaotic-nature-of-our-daily-life-and-its/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [“Everything seems just alike in these days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/everything-seems-just-alike-in-these-days/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [“He had said it bravely, and that is why one can trust Beethoven when he says other things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/he-had-said-it-bravely-and-that-is-why-one-can-trust-beethoven-when/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [“He whispered: ‘Is it this? Is this possible? I’ll put a marvel to you. That your cousin has always hoped. That from the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/he-whispered-is-it-this-is-this-possible-i-ll-put-a-marvel-to-you/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [“Perhaps anything that he did would have pleased Lucy, but his awkwardness went straight to her heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/perhaps-anything-that-he-did-would-have-pleased-lucy-but-his/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [“Because a thing is going strong now, it need not go strong for ever,' she said. 'This craze for motion has only set in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/because-a-thing-is-going-strong-now-it-need-not-go-strong-for-ever/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [“England was alive, throbbing through all her estuaries, crying for joy through the mouths of all her gulls, and the north wind, with contrary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/england-was-alive-throbbing-through-all-her-estuaries-crying-for-joy/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [“But the poetry of that kiss, the wonder of it, the magic that there was in life for hours after it--who can describe that?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/but-the-poetry-of-that-kiss-the-wonder-of-it-the-magic-that-there-was/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [“But that some sonatas of Beethoven are written tragic no one can gainsay; yet they can triumph or despair as the player decides, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/but-that-some-sonatas-of-beethoven-are-written-tragic-no-one-can/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [“He chanced to be in a lucid critical mood, and would not sympathize with exaltation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/he-chanced-to-be-in-a-lucid-critical-mood-and-would-not-sympathize/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) [Explore all 274 E.M. Forster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) ## More Dentist quotes > [The higher animals get their teeth without pain or inconvenience. Man gets his through months and months of cruel torture; he will never get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-higher-animals-get-their-teeth-without-pain-or-inconvenience-man/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [At first I thought, if I were Superman, a perfect secret identity would be "Clark Kent, Dentist," because you could save money on tooth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/at-first-i-thought-if-i-were-superman-a-perfect-secret-identity-would/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“Are your kids afraid of the Dentist?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-patton/are-your-kids-afraid-of-the-dentist/) [Rhonda Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-patton/) > [Gauguin flew into a frenzy! He held my head under the X-ray machine for ten straight minutes and for several hours after I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/gauguin-flew-into-a-frenzy-he-held-my-head-under-the-x-ray-machine/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Dentists tell you not to pick your teeth with any sharp metal object. Then you sit in their chair and the first thing they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/dentists-tell-you-not-to-pick-your-teeth-with-any-sharp-metal-object/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [Trips to the dentist - I like to postpone that kind of thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/trips-to-the-dentist-i-like-to-postpone-that-kind-of-thing/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I'm like the guy who prepares your taxes or a dentist. I'm very conservative and boring in a lot of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/i-m-like-the-guy-who-prepares-your-taxes-or-a-dentist-i-m-very/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [My therapist was like, 'What brings joy to your heart?' And I was like, 'I like to see teeth. I guess maybe I should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/my-therapist-was-like-what-brings-joy-to-your-heart-and-i-was-like-i/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [You can't escape history, or the needs and neuroses you've picked up like layers and layers of tartar on your teeth… Your every past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-escape-history-or-the-needs-and-neuroses-you-ve-picked-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/men-hang-out-their-signs-indicative-of-their-respective-trades-shoe/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Dentistry was an ego trip, and acting is a personal need. Usually it's the reverse, and I honestly don't think I had the talent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilcox/dentistry-was-an-ego-trip-and-acting-is-a-personal-need-usually-it-s/) [Larry Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilcox/) > [So I went to the dentist. He said Say Aaah. I said Why? He said My dog's died.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-i-went-to-the-dentist-he-said-say-aaah-i-said-why-he-said-my-dog-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man loses his illusions first, his teeth second, and his follies last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-rowland/a-man-loses-his-illusions-first-his-teeth-second-and-his-follies-last/) [Helen Rowland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-rowland/) > [There are three proven rules for good teeth: brush after every meal; see your dentist twice a year; and mind your own business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-boyd/there-are-three-proven-rules-for-good-teeth-brush-after-every-meal/) [Henry Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-boyd/) > [I wonder if there's such a thing as a spiritual dentist? I think my whole personality is full of cavities!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/i-wonder-if-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a-spiritual-dentist-i-think-my/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) [Browse all 271 Dentist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dentist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Mr. Herriton, don’t – please, Mr. Herriton – a dentist. His father’s a dentist.” Philip gave a cry of personal disgust and pain. He shuddered all over, and edged away from his companion. A dentist! A dentist at Monteriano. A dentist in fairyland! False teeth and laughing gas and the tilting chair at a place which knew the Etruscan League, and the Pax Romana, and Alaric himself, and the Countess Matilda, and the Middle Ages, all fighting and holiness, and the Renaissance, all fighting and beauty! He thought of Lilia no longer. He was anxious for himself: he feared that Romance might die.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "E.M. 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