Ambition Quote by Jessica Mitford
“Funeralese has had its ups and downs. The word 'morticians,' first used in Embalmers Monthly for February, 1895, was barred by the Chicago Tribune in 1932, 'not for lack of sympathy with the ambition of undertakers to be well regarded, but because of it. If they haven't the sense to save themselves from their own lexicographers, we shall not be guilty of abetting them in their folly.”
About This Quote
Source Article: The New Yorker, 1952, “The Funeral Industry”
The quote critiques how funeral professionals manipulate language to improve their image, warning against self‑deception and the power of terminology.
In simple terms: People can hide truth by rebranding, which can be deceptive.
Key Takeaway
Beware of euphemisms that mask reality.
Themes
language
image
ethics
profession
deception
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
commentary
When to use this quote
- funeral business
- public relations
- consumer awareness
- journalistic critique
Key Concepts
semantic framing
social perception
self‑interest
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language shape our perception of difficult topics?
- What responsibilities do professionals have to use honest terminology?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overgeneralize the motives of all funeral workers.
![“My stay in Camp Betty was the longest I'd been without drink or drugs in my adult life. [...] At first, they put me in a room with a guy who owned a bowling alley, but he snored like an asthmatic horse, so I moved and ended up with a depressive mortician. [...] The mortician snored even louder…” quote by Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/13b/ozzy-osbourne-685_adult-life_my-stay-in-camp-betty-was-the-longest-i_1967046.jpg)
