--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Walking along the tables, my spirits sank…" description: "\"“Walking along the tables, my spirits sank even lower. Almost all the better fiddles, the ones made by professionals, were antiqued copies. Even the wi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/james-n-mckean-80401_girl-scout_walking-along-the-tables-my-spirits-sank_3127801.jpg" --- # Walking along the tables, my spirits sank even lower… ![“Walking along the tables, my spirits sank even lower. Almost all the better fiddles, the ones made by professionals, were antiqued copies. Even the winning violin was a fake. I walked to the end of the room, where the cellos were lined up. They, too, were all antiqued, except for mine. With its…” quote by James N McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/james-n-mckean-80401_girl-scout_walking-along-the-tables-my-spirits-sank_3127801.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/james-n-mckean-80401_girl-scout_walking-along-the-tables-my-spirits-sank_3127801.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/james-n-mckean-80401_girl-scout_walking-along-the-tables-my-spirits-sank_3127801.jpg) > ““Walking along the tables, my spirits sank even lower. Almost all the better fiddles, the ones made by professionals, were antiqued copies. Even the winning violin was a fake. I walked to the end of the room, where the cellos were lined up. They, too, were all antiqued, except for mine. With its orange-red varnish and crisp, unworn edges, it stood out like a Girl Scout at the Adult Film Awards. What had happened? Gone was any originality, any sense of style. The fluorescent lighting cast a harsh, cold glare, making the sad attempts at artificial aging look even more lifeless. I felt sick at heart. Thirty years ago, when the school opened, we had viewed copying with a visceral contempt—the great Babylonian captivity of violin making. We were the young Americans, the first of a new school of making in the New World, and we saw it as our mission to restore our craft to its former glory, when the idea of copying didn’t even exist.”” James N McKean ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The loss of originality in a craft leads to disillusionment; true art requires authenticity, not imitation. **In simple terms:** Copying erodes originality, causing disappointment. Key Takeaway Value authenticity and resist superficial imitation. Themes art authenticity tradition Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - art education - museum curation - design innovation - heritage preservation Key Concepts craftsmanship cultural heritage Questions to Reflect On - How can originality be preserved? - What role does authenticity play in your field? A Different Perspective Market pressures may favor mass‑produced replicas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Girl scout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl-scout/) [Originality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originality/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing sells tombstones like a Girl Scout in uniform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/nothing-sells-tombstones-like-a-girl-scout-in-uniform/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [Wearing a hijab never made me feel any more conservative - it made me feel safe. Then, after 9/11, I became the butt of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sza/wearing-a-hijab-never-made-me-feel-any-more-conservative-it-made-me/) [SZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sza/) > [“What do I say to a whale, Galen?" I hiss. "Tell him to come closer." "No way." "Fine. Tell him to back up." I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/what-do-i-say-to-a-whale-galen-i-hiss-tell-him-to-come-closer-no-way/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [Around 7 years old, we girls took dancing lessons, joined the Brownies, the Girl Scouts, the 4H Club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-buzzi/around-7-years-old-we-girls-took-dancing-lessons-joined-the-brownies/) [Ruth Buzzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-buzzi/) > [“Ellis shook her head sadly. “I ate fifteen boxes of cookies the last time I robbed a Girl Scout. And then I gained three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-jamison/ellis-shook-her-head-sadly-i-ate-fifteen-boxes-of-cookies-the-last/) Sugar Jamison > [“We spent the rest of the afternoon searching for the lost Girl Scout troop. We found them asleep, drugged with music. They were curled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/we-spent-the-rest-of-the-afternoon-searching-for-the-lost-girl-scout/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I am an aging Girl Scout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/i-am-an-aging-girl-scout/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [This ain't the Girl Scouts. This ain't the Boy Scouts. This is the NBA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-garnett/this-ain-t-the-girl-scouts-this-ain-t-the-boy-scouts-this-is-the-nba/) [Kevin Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-garnett/) > [What're you in here for, stealing flowers? What'd you do, steal candy from the girl scouts?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madea/what-re-you-in-here-for-stealing-flowers-what-d-you-do-steal-candy/) [Madea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madea/) > [“You sure are a sweet girl, Scout. I'm half tempted to keep you." "Ummm... Thanks?" Knowing she was a potential Alpha I worried about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-blackwell/you-sure-are-a-sweet-girl-scout-i-m-half-tempted-to-keep-you-ummm/) [Tammy Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-blackwell/) > [I am struck by how many leading women... today started as Girl Scouts. It is an organization that obviously develops strong women leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-todd-whitman/i-am-struck-by-how-many-leading-women-today-started-as-girl-scouts-it/) [Christine Todd Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-todd-whitman/) > [I live to inspire girls, volunteers, Girl Scout staff and alumni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-maria-chavez/i-live-to-inspire-girls-volunteers-girl-scout-staff-and-alumni/) [Anna Maria Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-maria-chavez/) > [“That’s the river up there. We’ll likely have to spend the night.’’ He slid me a curious glance. ‘‘I never asked whether you liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-macalister/that-s-the-river-up-there-we-ll-likely-have-to-spend-the-night-he/) [Katie MacAlister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-macalister/) > [The Girl Scouts is an organization that constantly gives you new goals to achieve and that's what life is all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/the-girl-scouts-is-an-organization-that-constantly-gives-you-new/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [I always liked my teachers, and I was in a lot of after-school projects. I was a Girl Scout until my senior year, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/i-always-liked-my-teachers-and-i-was-in-a-lot-of-after-school/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) ## More by James N McKean > [“Violin makers live for a long time, but that’s only because they can’t afford to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-mckean/violin-makers-live-for-a-long-time-but-that-s-only-because-they-can-t/) James N McKean > [“When you’re working with wood, every stroke of the tool dulls the edge just a little. Once, in my last year at the violin-making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-mckean/when-you-re-working-with-wood-every-stroke-of-the-tool-dulls-the-edge/) James N McKean Explore all 3 James N McKean quotes ## More Girl scout quotes > [Nothing sells tombstones like a Girl Scout in uniform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-m-appel/nothing-sells-tombstones-like-a-girl-scout-in-uniform/) [Jacob M. Appel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-m-appel/) > [The Girl Scouts is an organization that constantly gives you new goals to achieve and that's what life is all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/the-girl-scouts-is-an-organization-that-constantly-gives-you-new/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [“That’s the river up there. We’ll likely have to spend the night.’’ He slid me a curious glance. ‘‘I never asked whether you liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-macalister/that-s-the-river-up-there-we-ll-likely-have-to-spend-the-night-he/) [Katie MacAlister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-macalister/) > [I live to inspire girls, volunteers, Girl Scout staff and alumni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-maria-chavez/i-live-to-inspire-girls-volunteers-girl-scout-staff-and-alumni/) [Anna Maria Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-maria-chavez/) > [I am struck by how many leading women... today started as Girl Scouts. It is an organization that obviously develops strong women leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-todd-whitman/i-am-struck-by-how-many-leading-women-today-started-as-girl-scouts-it/) [Christine Todd Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-todd-whitman/) > [“You sure are a sweet girl, Scout. I'm half tempted to keep you." "Ummm... Thanks?" Knowing she was a potential Alpha I worried about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-blackwell/you-sure-are-a-sweet-girl-scout-i-m-half-tempted-to-keep-you-ummm/) [Tammy Blackwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-blackwell/) > [What're you in here for, stealing flowers? What'd you do, steal candy from the girl scouts?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madea/what-re-you-in-here-for-stealing-flowers-what-d-you-do-steal-candy/) [Madea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madea/) > [This ain't the Girl Scouts. This ain't the Boy Scouts. This is the NBA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-garnett/this-ain-t-the-girl-scouts-this-ain-t-the-boy-scouts-this-is-the-nba/) [Kevin Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-garnett/) > [I am an aging Girl Scout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/i-am-an-aging-girl-scout/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [“We spent the rest of the afternoon searching for the lost Girl Scout troop. We found them asleep, drugged with music. They were curled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/we-spent-the-rest-of-the-afternoon-searching-for-the-lost-girl-scout/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“Ellis shook her head sadly. “I ate fifteen boxes of cookies the last time I robbed a Girl Scout. And then I gained three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-jamison/ellis-shook-her-head-sadly-i-ate-fifteen-boxes-of-cookies-the-last/) Sugar Jamison > [Around 7 years old, we girls took dancing lessons, joined the Brownies, the Girl Scouts, the 4H Club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-buzzi/around-7-years-old-we-girls-took-dancing-lessons-joined-the-brownies/) [Ruth Buzzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-buzzi/) > [“What do I say to a whale, Galen?" I hiss. "Tell him to come closer." "No way." "Fine. Tell him to back up." I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/what-do-i-say-to-a-whale-galen-i-hiss-tell-him-to-come-closer-no-way/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [Wearing a hijab never made me feel any more conservative - it made me feel safe. Then, after 9/11, I became the butt of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sza/wearing-a-hijab-never-made-me-feel-any-more-conservative-it-made-me/) [SZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sza/) > [I always liked my teachers, and I was in a lot of after-school projects. I was a Girl Scout until my senior year, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/i-always-liked-my-teachers-and-i-was-in-a-lot-of-after-school/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) [Browse all 98 Girl scout quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl-scout/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Walking along the tables, my spirits sank even lower. Almost all the better fiddles, the ones made by professionals, were antiqued copies. Even the winning violin was a fake. I walked to the end of the room, where the cellos were lined up. They, too, were all antiqued, except for mine. With its orange-red varnish and crisp, unworn edges, it stood out like a Girl Scout at the Adult Film Awards. What had happened? Gone was any originality, any sense of style. The fluorescent lighting cast a harsh, cold glare, making the sad attempts at artificial aging look even more lifeless. I felt sick at heart. Thirty years ago, when the school opened, we had viewed copying with a visceral contempt—the great Babylonian captivity of violin making. We were the young Americans, the first of a new school of making in the New World, and we saw it as our mission to restore our craft to its former glory, when the idea of copying didn’t even exist.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James N McKean" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-mckean/walking-along-the-tables-my-spirits-sank-even-lower-almost-all-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Girl scout" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-mckean/walking-along-the-tables-my-spirits-sank-even-lower-almost-all-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/james-n-mckean-80401_girl-scout_walking-along-the-tables-my-spirits-sank_3127801.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/james-n-mckean-80401_girl-scout_walking-along-the-tables-my-spirits-sank_3127801.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/james-n-mckean-80401_girl-scout_walking-along-the-tables-my-spirits-sank_3127801.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Walking along the tables, my spirits sank even lower. Almost all the better fiddles, the ones made by…” — James N McKean", "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": "James N McKean", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-n-mckean/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Walking along the tables, my spirits...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-mckean/walking-along-the-tables-my-spirits-sank-even-lower-almost-all-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-n-mckean/walking-along-the-tables-my-spirits-sank-even-lower-almost-all-the/#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 } } ] } ```