These are the times that try men's souls. It's never…
““These are the times that try men's souls. It's never pleasant to be caught in the machinery when a favourite comes unstitched, and in the case of this particular dashed animal, one had come to look on the running of the race as a pure formality, a sort of quaint, old-world ceremony to be gone through before one sauntered up to the bookie and collected.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Code of the Woosters, 1938
The quote humorously describes how people get caught up in outdated rituals and expectations, especially when they fail, turning a simple event into a farcical ordeal.
In simple terms: People get tangled in old habits when things go wrong.
Key Takeaway
Question the value of pointless traditions.
Themes
humor
tradition
absurdity
Mood
wry
ironic
lighthearted
Type
satirical
observational.
When to use this quote
- sports betting
- everyday bureaucracy
- office meetings
- family gatherings
Key Concepts
social conformity
ritual
failure
expectation
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you follow any rituals without questioning their purpose?
- How does humor reveal hidden frustrations?
A Different Perspective
The satire may overlook genuine cultural significance of some rituals.