Bitter Quote by Evelyn Underhill
“The practical life of a vast number of people is not, as a matter of fact, worth while at all. It is like an impressive fur coat with no one inside it. One sees many of these coats occupying positions of great responsibility. Hans Andersen's story of the king with no clothes told one bitter and common truth about human nature; but the story of the clothes with no king describes a situation just as common and even more pitiable.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Practice of the Presence of God by Evelyn Underhill, 1912
Many people appear important but lack inner substance, like an empty coat; external status can mask emptiness.
In simple terms: Empty status hides lack of substance.
Key Takeaway
Seek inner depth over appearances.
Themes
authenticity
leadership
self-awareness
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- corporate leadership
- political office
- public speaking
- social media influence
Key Concepts
existential emptiness
social facade
Questions to Reflect On
- What inner qualities define true leadership?
- How can we recognize substance over style?
A Different Perspective
External symbols cannot replace genuine character.
![“[N]ames were what you wore forever, and she felt that she'd sent her daughters out in tacky rabbit fur coats when they should have been wrapped in mink.” quote by Sheri Holman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/38a/sheri-holman-26835_fur-coats_n-ames-were-what-you-wore-forever-and-sh_452445.jpg)
