Admiration Quote by Philip Roth
“That can happen when people die, the argument with them drops away and people so flawed while they were drawing breath that at times they were all but unbearable now assert themselves in the most appealing way, and what was least to your liking the day before yesterday becomes in the limousine behind the hearse a cause not only for sympathetic amusement but for admiration”
About This Quote
Source Novel: American Pastoral by Philip Roth, 1997
When someone dies, their flaws become less harsh, and their once‑unpleasant traits can be romanticized after death.
In simple terms: Death can soften how we view others.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the tendency to idealize the deceased.
Themes
mortality
perception
memory
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
observational
When to use this quote
- grief counseling
- family gatherings
- historical reflection
Key Concepts
psychology
nostalgia
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you notice this in your own life?
- How does it affect your relationships?
A Different Perspective
Idealizing the dead can obscure accountability.
