--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The moment when a man's head drops off is…" description: "\"The moment when a man's head drops off is seldom or never, I am inclined to think, precisely the most agreeable of his life.\" — Nathaniel Hawthorne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b25/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_agreeable_the-moment-when-a-man-s-head-drops-off-i_3036864.jpg" --- # The moment when a man's head drops off is seldom or never… ![“The moment when a man's head drops off is seldom or never, I am inclined to think, precisely the most agreeable of his life.” quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b25/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_agreeable_the-moment-when-a-man-s-head-drops-off-i_3036864.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b25/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_agreeable_the-moment-when-a-man-s-head-drops-off-i_3036864.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b25/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_agreeable_the-moment-when-a-man-s-head-drops-off-i_3036864.jpg) > “The moment when a man's head drops off is seldom or never, I am inclined to think, precisely the most agreeable of his life.” [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The most pleasant moments of life often come unexpectedly, when one is unaware of their significance. **In simple terms:** Unexpected joy can be the best part of life. Key Takeaway Savor unexpected happiness. Themes joy unexpected life contentment Mood reflective quiet Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily life - relationships - personal reflection Key Concepts philosophy existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize unnoticed joy? - What small moments bring you contentment? A Different Perspective May overlook subtle signs of happiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [There is nothing more agreeable in life than to make peace with the establishment and nothing more corrupting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-p-taylor/there-is-nothing-more-agreeable-in-life-than-to-make-peace-with-the/) [A. J. P. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-p-taylor/) > [There are lots of things worth doing that are no way to make a living. 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There are things all round us and right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/we-are-all-too-much-inclined-i-think-to-walk-through-life-with-our/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [My hypothesis is that for people who are both trained and inclined to think in rigorously logical ways, it is particularly difficult to adapt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/my-hypothesis-is-that-for-people-who-are-both-trained-and-inclined-to/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [“…I am inclined to think that these muscles and bones of mine would have gone off long ago to Megara or Boeotia—by the dog…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-am-inclined-to-think-that-these-muscles-and-bones-of-mine-would/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Considering how much we are all given to discuss the characters of others, and discuss them often not in the strictest spirit of charity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/considering-how-much-we-are-all-given-to-discuss-the-characters-of/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [“The more I see of the world, the less inclined I am to think well of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bennett/the-more-i-see-of-the-world-the-less-inclined-i-am-to-think-well-of-it/) [Elizabeth Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bennett/) > [“A sort of insatiability seems to infect our feelings when we look back on women, particularly on those who are highly interesting and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hardwick/a-sort-of-insatiability-seems-to-infect-our-feelings-when-we-look/) [Elizabeth Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hardwick/) > [I am inclined to think -' said I. 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Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Above all one should accept everything, in general and individually, in oneself or in others, agreeable or disagreeable, with a prompt and confident spirit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-the-great/above-all-one-should-accept-everything-in-general-and-individually-in/) Albert the Great > [“Expect a most agreeable letter, for not being overburdened with subject (having nothing at all to say), there shall be no check to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/expect-a-most-agreeable-letter-for-not-being-overburdened-with/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [It is with rivers as it is with people: the greatest are not always the most agreeable nor the best to live with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/it-is-with-rivers-as-it-is-with-people-the-greatest-are-not-always/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) ## More by Nathaniel Hawthorne > [“there was something of the women molded into the great, stalwart frame of Hollingsworth; nor was he ashamed of it; as men often are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/there-was-something-of-the-women-molded-into-the-great-stalwart-frame/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [The trees reflected in the river - they are unconscious of a spiritual world so near to them. So are we.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-trees-reflected-in-the-river-they-are-unconscious-of-a-spiritual/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“The dismaying thing about the classic totalitarian mind is that any given gear, though mutilated, will have at its circumference unbroken sequences of teeth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-dismaying-thing-about-the-classic-totalitarian-mind-is-that-any/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“My heart was a habitation large enough for many guests, but lonely and chill, and without a household fire, I longed to kindle one!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/my-heart-was-a-habitation-large-enough-for-many-guests-but-lonely-and/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Wherever there is a heart and an intellect, the diseases of the physical frame are tinged with the peculiarities of these.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/wherever-there-is-a-heart-and-an-intellect-the-diseases-of-the/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-founders-of-a-new-colony-whatever-utopia-of-human-virtue-and/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Generosity is the flower of justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/generosity-is-the-flower-of-justice/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“he seemed to be in quest for mental food, not heart sustenance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/he-seemed-to-be-in-quest-for-mental-food-not-heart-sustenance/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“Unfathomable to mere mortals is the lore of fiends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/unfathomable-to-mere-mortals-is-the-lore-of-fiends/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“Possibly, he was in a state of second growth and recovery, and was constantly assimilating nutriment for his spirit and intellect from sights, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/possibly-he-was-in-a-state-of-second-growth-and-recovery-and-was/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“What wonder, then, should we be frightened by the aspect of a monster, which, after all,—though we can point to every feature of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/what-wonder-then-should-we-be-frightened-by-the-aspect-of-a-monster/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [As the architecture of a country always follows the earliest structures, American architecture should be a refinement of the log-house. The Egyptian is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/as-the-architecture-of-a-country-always-follows-the-earliest/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [What we call real estate - the solid ground to build a house on - is the broad foundation on which nearly all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/what-we-call-real-estate-the-solid-ground-to-build-a-house-on-is-the/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [“The bookworm of great libraries.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-bookworm-of-great-libraries/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [There are many things in this world that a child must not ask about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/there-are-many-things-in-this-world-that-a-child-must-not-ask-about/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) [Explore all 526 Nathaniel Hawthorne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) ## More Agreeable quotes > [It is with rivers as it is with people: the greatest are not always the most agreeable nor the best to live with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/it-is-with-rivers-as-it-is-with-people-the-greatest-are-not-always/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [I roll out of my couch every morning with the more agreeable expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/i-roll-out-of-my-couch-every-morning-with-the-more-agreeable/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Remember that when you meet your antagonist, to do everything in a mild agreeable manner. Let your courage be keen, but, at the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/remember-that-when-you-meet-your-antagonist-to-do-everything-in-a/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [“Expect a most agreeable letter, for not being overburdened with subject (having nothing at all to say), there shall be no check to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/expect-a-most-agreeable-letter-for-not-being-overburdened-with/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Above all one should accept everything, in general and individually, in oneself or in others, agreeable or disagreeable, with a prompt and confident spirit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-the-great/above-all-one-should-accept-everything-in-general-and-individually-in/) Albert the Great > [“We laughed at the same things, and we liked the same things. What more is needed for agreeable society?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/we-laughed-at-the-same-things-and-we-liked-the-same-things-what-more/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [I'm small, but I'm neither compliant nor agreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/i-m-small-but-i-m-neither-compliant-nor-agreeable/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [Surrounded by all the members of my dear family, enjoying the affection of numerous friends, who have never abandoned me, and possessing a sufficient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-audubon/surrounded-by-all-the-members-of-my-dear-family-enjoying-the/) [John James Audubon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-audubon/) > [Choose the GOOD WILL that is most useful, and habit will make it the most agreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marv-stark/choose-the-good-will-that-is-most-useful-and-habit-will-make-it-the/) [Marv Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marv-stark/) > [An agreeable figure and winning manner, which inspire affection without love, are always new. Beauty loses its relish, the graces never, after the longest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-home-lord-kames/an-agreeable-figure-and-winning-manner-which-inspire-affection/) [Henry Home, Lord Kames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-home-lord-kames/) > [I always follow the rules. No fake co-productions. I know how to make content agreeable and acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-zheng-wu/i-always-follow-the-rules-no-fake-co-productions-i-know-how-to-make/) [Bruno Zheng Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-zheng-wu/) > [I like to make people happy, and with fairy tales, I can say anything I want to, but in an agreeable way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-ocelot/i-like-to-make-people-happy-and-with-fairy-tales-i-can-say-anything-i/) [Michel Ocelot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-ocelot/) > [Dandies, when first-rate, are generally very agreeable men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/dandies-when-first-rate-are-generally-very-agreeable-men/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [This goin' ware glory waits ye haint one agreeable feetur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/this-goin-ware-glory-waits-ye-haint-one-agreeable-feetur/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [One thing which makes us find so few people who appear reasonable and agreeable in conversation is, that there is scarcely any one who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/one-thing-which-makes-us-find-so-few-people-who-appear-reasonable-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) Browse all 151 Agreeable quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The moment when a man's head drops off is seldom or never, I am inclined to think, precisely the most agreeable of his life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nathaniel Hawthorne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-moment-when-a-man-s-head-drops-off-is-seldom-or-never-i-am/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Agreeable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-moment-when-a-man-s-head-drops-off-is-seldom-or-never-i-am/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b25/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_agreeable_the-moment-when-a-man-s-head-drops-off-i_3036864.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b25/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_agreeable_the-moment-when-a-man-s-head-drops-off-i_3036864.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b25/nathaniel-hawthorne-461_agreeable_the-moment-when-a-man-s-head-drops-off-i_3036864.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The moment when a man's head drops off is seldom or never, I am inclined to think, precisely the most…” — Nathaniel Hawthorne", "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": "Nathaniel Hawthorne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The moment when a man's head...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-moment-when-a-man-s-head-drops-off-is-seldom-or-never-i-am/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-moment-when-a-man-s-head-drops-off-is-seldom-or-never-i-am/#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 } } ] } ```