Amiable Quote by John Ruskin
“Our respect for the dead, when they are just dead, is something wonderful, and the way we show it more wonderful still. We show it with black feathers and black horses; we show it with black dresses and black heraldries; we show it with costly obelisks and sculptures of sorrow, which spoil half of our beautiful cathedrals. We show it with frightful gratings and vaults, and lids of dismal stone, in the midst of the quiet grass; and last, and not least, we show it by permitting ourselves to tell any number of falsehoods we think amiable or credible in the epitaph.”
About This Quote
Societal rituals of mourning often become ostentatious displays that can obscure genuine remembrance.
In simple terms: Grief is masked by lavish symbols.
Key Takeaway
Excessive ceremony can dilute authentic respect.
Themes
mortality
ritual
authenticity
Mood
somber
critical
Type
essay
When to use this quote
- funeral planning
- memorial design
Key Concepts
cultural performativity
Practical Applications
- focus on personal tribute over grand monuments
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance honoring the dead with humility?
A Different Perspective
Simple gestures may still feel insufficient for some.
