--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Death wears a big hat." description: "\"“Death wears a big hat.”\" — Elvis Costello" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/elvis-costello-1931_death_death-wears-a-big-hat-2693109_2693109.jpg" --- # Death wears a big hat. ![“Death wears a big hat.” quote by Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/elvis-costello-1931_death_death-wears-a-big-hat-2693109_2693109.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/elvis-costello-1931_death_death-wears-a-big-hat-2693109_2693109.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/elvis-costello-1931_death_death-wears-a-big-hat-2693109_2693109.jpg) > ““Death wears a big hat.”” [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Death is personified as wearing an oversized, absurd hat, mocking its seriousness. **In simple terms:** Death is shown wearing a silly big hat. Key Takeaway Don’t take death too seriously. Themes mortality humor personification absurdity satire Mood playful dark Type poetic musical When to use this quote - music lyric - poetry - philosophical Key Concepts dark comedy existential reflection Questions to Reflect On - What does the hat represent? - How does humor change perception of death? A Different Perspective Humor may downplay grief. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Wears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-wears-2674062/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Wears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wears/) [Wears Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wears-big-2674063/) ## Related quotes > [Death wears many faces, but it’s stench is always the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/death-wears-many-faces-but-it-s-stench-is-always-the-same/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [I have been wanting to do beauty for years and to pair with an international beauty company. It will solidify the image of Jason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-wu/i-have-been-wanting-to-do-beauty-for-years-and-to-pair-with-an/) [Jason Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-wu/) > [“I’m a man who wears many hats. Some of them are furry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-a-man-who-wears-many-hats-some-of-them-are-furry/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [The newness effect of a new thing wears off in nine months to a year, but financial security can last a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/the-newness-effect-of-a-new-thing-wears-off-in-nine-months-to-a-year/) [Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/) > [A designer is only as good as the star who wears her clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-head/a-designer-is-only-as-good-as-the-star-who-wears-her-clothes/) [Edith Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-head/) > [He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/he-wears-his-faith-but-as-the-fashion-of-his-hat/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Power wears out those who don't have it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/power-wears-out-those-who-don-t-have-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This game wears on you. It tears you down. It's perpetual motion for some people who've achieved a level of independence, like Madonna and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/this-game-wears-on-you-it-tears-you-down-it-s-perpetual-motion-for/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [I wear Spanx to smooth things out. I read that Jessica Alba wears them and if she wears them, then so should I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-bynes/i-wear-spanx-to-smooth-things-out-i-read-that-jessica-alba-wears-them/) [Amanda Bynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-bynes/) > [It's an interesting but useless bit of information that every single character in 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' wears a wig,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/it-s-an-interesting-but-useless-bit-of-information-that-every-single/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [“Not everyone wears their scars on their skin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isla-j-bick/not-everyone-wears-their-scars-on-their-skin/) [Isla J. Bick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isla-j-bick/) > [I'm not the only female that wears men's clothes, so I'm not one in a million.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-m-not-the-only-female-that-wears-men-s-clothes-so-i-m-not-one-in-a/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [I love 'The Devil Wears Prada.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-condor/i-love-the-devil-wears-prada/) [Lana Condor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-condor/) > [A lot of sad stories in a row - that wears on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-edwards/a-lot-of-sad-stories-in-a-row-that-wears-on-you/) [Elizabeth Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-edwards/) > [I have a large watch collection, and classic watches are especially important to me. I had a silver Rolex, and I actually gave it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/i-have-a-large-watch-collection-and-classic-watches-are-especially/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) ## More by Elvis Costello > [Good manners and bad breath will get you nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/good-manners-and-bad-breath-will-get-you-nowhere/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [History repeats the old conceits, the glib replies, the same defeats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/history-repeats-the-old-conceits-the-glib-replies-the-same-defeats/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [People think it is all about country music, and I know a lot of country music has come out of there, but like Blonde…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/people-think-it-is-all-about-country-music-and-i-know-a-lot-of/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [I get very frustrated by this term 'genre exercise.' I mean, what exactly is that? Genre is not really relevant when you are writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-get-very-frustrated-by-this-term-genre-exercise-i-mean-what-exactly/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Even in a perfect world where everyone was equal. I'd still own the film rights and be working on the sequel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/even-in-a-perfect-world-where-everyone-was-equal-i-d-still-own-the/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Somebody should clip Sting around the head and tell him to stop using that ridiculous Jamaican accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/somebody-should-clip-sting-around-the-head-and-tell-him-to-stop-using/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [There is something wrong with you if you don't get angry about something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/there-is-something-wrong-with-you-if-you-don-t-get-angry-about/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [“Was it a millionaire who said "imagine no possessions?" A poor little schoolboy who said "we don't need no lessons?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/was-it-a-millionaire-who-said-imagine-no-possessions-a-poor-little/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Though the passion still flutters and flickers, it never got into our knickers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/though-the-passion-still-flutters-and-flickers-it-never-got-into-our/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [My dad's father was a White Star Line trumpet player in the '20s. It shaped the way that I think about music. My grandfather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/my-dad-s-father-was-a-white-star-line-trumpet-player-in-the-20s-it/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Life for me is about movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/life-for-me-is-about-movement/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Maybe I just never learned my harmony part, because what everybody says sounds odd to them sounds perfectly natural to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/maybe-i-just-never-learned-my-harmony-part-because-what-everybody/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [There are a lot of things that you can like at a distance without spending a huge amount of time pondering. It's not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/there-are-a-lot-of-things-that-you-can-like-at-a-distance-without/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [Don't wear your heart on your sleeve when your remarks are off the cuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/don-t-wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve-when-your-remarks-are-off-the/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [I'm just the mere shadow of my former selfishness. I crave the silhouette of your kiss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-m-just-the-mere-shadow-of-my-former-selfishness-i-crave-the/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) [Explore all 197 Elvis Costello quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) [J. Anthony Torino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-anthony-torino/) > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) [Alan W. Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-powers/) > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Death wears a big hat.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elvis Costello" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/death-wears-a-big-hat/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/death-wears-a-big-hat/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/elvis-costello-1931_death_death-wears-a-big-hat-2693109_2693109.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/elvis-costello-1931_death_death-wears-a-big-hat-2693109_2693109.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddd/elvis-costello-1931_death_death-wears-a-big-hat-2693109_2693109.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Death wears a big hat.” — Elvis Costello", "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": "Elvis Costello", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Death wears a big hat.”", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/death-wears-a-big-hat/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/death-wears-a-big-hat/#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 } } ] } ```