--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An epitaph is a belated advertisement for…" description: "\"An epitaph is a belated advertisement for a line of goods that has been discontinued.\" — Irvin S. Cobb" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/irvin-s-cobb-22162_advertisement_an-epitaph-is-a-belated-advertisement-fo_619503.png" --- # An epitaph is a belated advertisement for a line of goods… ![“An epitaph is a belated advertisement for a line of goods that has been discontinued.” quote by Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/irvin-s-cobb-22162_advertisement_an-epitaph-is-a-belated-advertisement-fo_619503.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/irvin-s-cobb-22162_advertisement_an-epitaph-is-a-belated-advertisement-fo_619503.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/irvin-s-cobb-22162_advertisement_an-epitaph-is-a-belated-advertisement-fo_619503.png) > “An epitaph is a belated advertisement for a line of goods that has been discontinued.” [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compares an epitaph to a late advertisement for discontinued products, highlighting the futility of trying to sell something that no longer exists. **In simple terms:** Epitaphs are like ads for things that are gone. Key Takeaway Recognize the finality of endings. Themes mortality humor reflection Mood wry thoughtful Type philosophical humorous When to use this quote - funeral services - historical memorials - personal reflections Key Concepts legacy consumer culture impermanence Questions to Reflect On - How does humor affect our view of death? - What value do memorials hold beyond advertising? A Different Perspective May overlook the emotional comfort people seek in remembrance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advertisement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advertisement/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Belated Advertisement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belated-advertisement-232594/) [Discontinued](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discontinued-232595/) [Epitaph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epitaph/) [Epitaph Belated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epitaph-belated-232593/) [Goods Discontinued](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goods-discontinued-5015200/) [Line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/line/) ## Related quotes > [An epitaph is a belated advertisement for a line of goods that have been permanently discontinued.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/an-epitaph-is-a-belated-advertisement-for-a-line-of-goods-that-have/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [He is so old that his blood type was discontinued.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-is-so-old-that-his-blood-type-was-discontinued/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It was a very limited practice; carefully safeguarded. In 1890, that practice was discontinued.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/it-was-a-very-limited-practice-carefully-safeguarded-in-1890-that/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [What is painting today? It's a discontinued thing, discontinued from anything serious that happened in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-collings/what-is-painting-today-it-s-a-discontinued-thing-discontinued-from/) [Matthew Collings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-collings/) > ['I am a camera' but it is a discontinued model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-jay/i-am-a-camera-but-it-is-a-discontinued-model/) [Bill Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-jay/) > [You know you're old if they have discontinued your blood type.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/you-know-you-re-old-if-they-have-discontinued-your-blood-type/) [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) > [In the weeks that followed, we amazed ourselves. Our habits slid apart easily...And our very few intimacies were simply discontinued. Where did they go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/in-the-weeks-that-followed-we-amazed-ourselves-our-habits-slid-apart/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [When I was a kid, I was really into the shows my older brothers were into. I got all the action figures handed down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-mooney/when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-really-into-the-shows-my-older-brothers-were/) [Kyle Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-mooney/) > [“Don't compare the size of your roof with the size of the sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-compare-the-size-of-your-roof-with-the-size-of-the-sky/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I think if you can create a meaningful thing that is also an advertisement that's a pretty cool option for brands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-walters/i-think-if-you-can-create-a-meaningful-thing-that-is-also-an/) [Doug Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-walters/) > [If there's one thing I've always taken care of with my work, it's that it's never an advertisement for anything other than the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jr/if-there-s-one-thing-i-ve-always-taken-care-of-with-my-work-it-s-that/) [JR](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jr/) > [“The smell of the sweat is not sweet, but the fruit of the sweat is very sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-smell-of-the-sweat-is-not-sweet-but-the-fruit-of-the-sweat-is/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“Sarah drew a deep breath and released it slowly, waiting for her voice to steady before she spoke. “It’s a ve ry good story.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/sarah-drew-a-deep-breath-and-released-it-slowly-waiting-for-her-voice/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“In general, poor is polite and rich is rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/in-general-poor-is-polite-and-rich-is-rude/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“Take care of your costume and your confidence will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/take-care-of-your-costume-and-your-confidence-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) ## More by Irvin S. Cobb > [“Daylight would have shown a wilderness weathered and blowzy, a wanton that had lived her summer too fast and too greedily. It would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/daylight-would-have-shown-a-wilderness-weathered-and-blowzy-a-wanton/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [Reelfoot is, and has always been, a lake of mystery.In places it is bottomless. Other places the skeletons of the cypress-trees that went down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/reelfoot-is-and-has-always-been-a-lake-of-mystery-in-places-it-is/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [If writers were good businessmen, they'd have too much sense to be writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/if-writers-were-good-businessmen-they-d-have-too-much-sense-to-be/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [You had to hate the Colonel a whole lot to keep from loving him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/you-had-to-hate-the-colonel-a-whole-lot-to-keep-from-loving-him/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [A funeral eulogy is a belated plea for the defense delivered after the evidence is all in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/a-funeral-eulogy-is-a-belated-plea-for-the-defense-delivered-after/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/i-ve-just-learned-about-his-illness-let-s-hope-it-s-nothing-trivial/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [If a woman likes another woman, she's cordial. If she doesn't like her, she's very cordial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/if-a-woman-likes-another-woman-she-s-cordial-if-she-doesn-t-like-her/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [“By now the moon was well down. Over the tree tops they had seen her cruise across the heavens to strike on a reef…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/by-now-the-moon-was-well-down-over-the-tree-tops-they-had-seen-her/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [A good storyteller is a person with a good memory and hopes other people haven't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/a-good-storyteller-is-a-person-with-a-good-memory-and-hopes-other/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [Of all American cities of whatever size the most friendly on preliminary inspection, and on further acquaintance the most likable. The happiest-hearted, the gayest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/of-all-american-cities-of-whatever-size-the-most-friendly-on/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [Humor is merely tragedy standing on its head with its pants torn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/humor-is-merely-tragedy-standing-on-its-head-with-its-pants-torn/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [Men are vain; but they won't mind women working so long as they get smaller wages for the same job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/men-are-vain-but-they-won-t-mind-women-working-so-long-as-they-get/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [Golf - a young man's vice and an old man's penance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/golf-a-young-man-s-vice-and-an-old-man-s-penance/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [“He also could feel it in his nostrils like an impalpable soot; the emanations of the millions about them, packed away at night in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/he-also-could-feel-it-in-his-nostrils-like-an-impalpable-soot-the/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [You couldn't tell if she was dressed for an opera or an operation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/you-couldn-t-tell-if-she-was-dressed-for-an-opera-or-an-operation/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) [Explore all 28 Irvin S. Cobb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) ## More Advertisement quotes > [“Take care of your costume and your confidence will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/take-care-of-your-costume-and-your-confidence-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“In general, poor is polite and rich is rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/in-general-poor-is-polite-and-rich-is-rude/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“Sarah drew a deep breath and released it slowly, waiting for her voice to steady before she spoke. “It’s a ve ry good story.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/sarah-drew-a-deep-breath-and-released-it-slowly-waiting-for-her-voice/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“The smell of the sweat is not sweet, but the fruit of the sweat is very sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-smell-of-the-sweat-is-not-sweet-but-the-fruit-of-the-sweat-is/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [If there's one thing I've always taken care of with my work, it's that it's never an advertisement for anything other than the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jr/if-there-s-one-thing-i-ve-always-taken-care-of-with-my-work-it-s-that/) [JR](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jr/) > [I think if you can create a meaningful thing that is also an advertisement that's a pretty cool option for brands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-walters/i-think-if-you-can-create-a-meaningful-thing-that-is-also-an/) [Doug Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-walters/) > [“Don't compare the size of your roof with the size of the sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-compare-the-size-of-your-roof-with-the-size-of-the-sky/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [Basically, art should remain something that is complex, that has many layers, so there's always a possibility to reconsider things and have a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-henrot/basically-art-should-remain-something-that-is-complex-that-has-many/) [Camille Henrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-henrot/) > [“Advertisement! A device for forcing the unwilling into line. Did it matter to a ground vehicle manufacturer whether a given individual felt an original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/advertisement-a-device-for-forcing-the-unwilling-into-line-did-it/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“All worries are less with wine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/all-worries-are-less-with-wine/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [The most excellent and divine counsel, the best and most profitable advertisement of all others, but the least practiced, is to study and learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-charron/the-most-excellent-and-divine-counsel-the-best-and-most-profitable/) [Pierre Charron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-charron/) > [I would rather die than see my face in a car advertisement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azzedine-alaia/i-would-rather-die-than-see-my-face-in-a-car-advertisement/) [Azzedine Alaia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azzedine-alaia/) > [“The mistakes of the world are warning message for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-mistakes-of-the-world-are-warning-message-for-you/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [advertisement ... has brought our disregard for truth into the open without even a figleaf to cover it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-stark/advertisement-has-brought-our-disregard-for-truth-into-the-open/) [Freya Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-stark/) > [“Connecting to the outernet was less of a shock this time, as the monitor gave him a sense of distance from it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-friedman/connecting-to-the-outernet-was-less-of-a-shock-this-time-as-the/) [C.S. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-friedman/) [Browse all 193 Advertisement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advertisement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An epitaph is a belated advertisement for a line of goods that has been discontinued.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Irvin S. Cobb" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/an-epitaph-is-a-belated-advertisement-for-a-line-of-goods-that-has/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advertisement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/an-epitaph-is-a-belated-advertisement-for-a-line-of-goods-that-has/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/irvin-s-cobb-22162_advertisement_an-epitaph-is-a-belated-advertisement-fo_619503.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/irvin-s-cobb-22162_advertisement_an-epitaph-is-a-belated-advertisement-fo_619503.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e4/irvin-s-cobb-22162_advertisement_an-epitaph-is-a-belated-advertisement-fo_619503.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“An epitaph is a belated advertisement for a line of goods that has been discontinued.” — Irvin S. Cobb", "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": "Irvin S. Cobb", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "An epitaph is a belated advertisement...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/an-epitaph-is-a-belated-advertisement-for-a-line-of-goods-that-has/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/an-epitaph-is-a-belated-advertisement-for-a-line-of-goods-that-has/#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 } } ] } ```