Common life Quote by Herman Melville
““It is well known that at the coronation of kings and queens, even modern ones, a certain curious process of seasoning them for their functions is gone through. There is a saltcellar of state, so called, and there may be a caster of state. How they use the salt, precisely--who knows? Certain I am, however, that a king's head is solemnly oiled at his coronation, even as a head of salad. Can it be, though, that they anoint it with a view of making its interior run well, as they anoint machinery? Much might be ruminated here, concerning the essential dignity of this regal process, because in common life we esteem but meanly and contemptibly a fellow who anoints his hair, and palpably smells of that anointing. In truth, a mature man who uses hair-oil, unless medicinally, that man has probably got a quoggy spot in him somewhere. As a general rule, he can't amount to much in his totality.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Moby‑Dick, 1851
Coronation rituals are likened to seasoning and anointing, suggesting superficial pomp masks deeper function, while personal grooming is mocked as trivial.
In simple terms: Royal rites are symbolic, but personal habits are judged harshly.
Key Takeaway
Question the meaning behind rituals and appearances.
Themes
ritual
appearance
status
Mood
satirical
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- politics
- ceremonies
- personal grooming
- social perception
Key Concepts
symbolism
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What rituals do you accept without question?
- How do appearances affect your judgments?
A Different Perspective
Comparisons may be exaggerated or satirical.
