---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was about to speak when the maître…"
description: "\"“I was about to speak when the maître d’hôtel advanced on our table. He showed me the wine label, all smiles as if showing me a photo of his only son. ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/haruki-murakami-21_funny-but-true_i-was-about-to-speak-when-the-ma-tre-d-h_2242689.jpg"
---

#  I was about to speak when the maître d’hôtel advanced on…

![“I was about to speak when the maître d’hôtel advanced on our table. He showed me the wine label, all smiles as if showing me a photo of his only son. I nodded. He unscrewed the cork with a pleasant pop, then poured out a small mouthful in my glass. It tasted like the price of the entire dinner.” quote by Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/haruki-murakami-21_funny-but-true_i-was-about-to-speak-when-the-ma-tre-d-h_2242689.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/haruki-murakami-21_funny-but-true_i-was-about-to-speak-when-the-ma-tre-d-h_2242689.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba0/haruki-murakami-21_funny-but-true_i-was-about-to-speak-when-the-ma-tre-d-h_2242689.jpg)

> ““I was about to speak when the maître d’hôtel advanced on our table. He showed me the wine label, all smiles as if showing me a photo of his only son. I nodded. He unscrewed the cork with a pleasant pop, then poured out a small mouthful in my glass. It tasted like the price of the entire dinner.””

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

## About This Quote

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

The wine's taste metaphorically reflects the high cost of the dinner.

**In simple terms:** Wine tasted like the dinner's price.

Key Takeaway

Recognize hidden costs in experiences.

Themes

food metaphor value experience

Mood

contemplative poetic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- dining out
- budgeting meals
- appreciating flavors
- reading symbolism

Key Concepts

symbolic pricing sensory description

Questions to Reflect On

- What everyday moments hide deeper meaning?
- How do sensory details reveal truth?

A Different Perspective

May overlook subtle cues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Funny but true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-but-true/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/)

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