---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How about we walk back? Through the…"
description: "\"“How about we walk back? Through the cemetery ?' One thing my mom had taught me is that it's difficult to refuse requests made in italics.”\" — The Harv..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/660/the-harvard-lampoon-22750_quote_how-about-we-walk-back-through-the-cemet_2018616.jpg"
---

#  How about we walk back? Through the cemetery ?' One thing…

![“How about we walk back? Through the cemetery ?' One thing my mom had taught me is that it's difficult to refuse requests made in italics.” quote by The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/660/the-harvard-lampoon-22750_quote_how-about-we-walk-back-through-the-cemet_2018616.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/660/the-harvard-lampoon-22750_quote_how-about-we-walk-back-through-the-cemet_2018616.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/660/the-harvard-lampoon-22750_quote_how-about-we-walk-back-through-the-cemet_2018616.jpg)

> ““How about we walk back? Through the cemetery ?' One thing my mom had taught me is that it's difficult to refuse requests made in italics.””

[The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A humorous suggestion to retreat, juxtaposed with a lesson about difficulty refusing italicized requests, highlighting social pressure and politeness norms.

**In simple terms:** Walking away is easy, but saying no to italicized asks is hard.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and set boundaries with polite refusals.

Themes

humor social pressure politeness

Mood

lighthearted reflective

Type

satire observational

When to use this quote

- family gatherings
- online requests
- workplace emails
- social media comments

Key Concepts

communication boundary setting

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you decide when to comply with a subtly framed request?
- What strategies help you assert boundaries without offending?

A Different Perspective

Politeness can mask true intent, making refusals socially awkward.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [A student will send me an urgent appeal to hear her, saying she is poor and wants my advice as to whether it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alma-gluck/a-student-will-send-me-an-urgent-appeal-to-hear-her-saying-she-is/)

[Alma Gluck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alma-gluck/)

> [I like to go to the movies at The Hollywood Forever Cemetery. They do this thing in The Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-mckee/i-like-to-go-to-the-movies-at-the-hollywood-forever-cemetery-they-do/)

[Bonnie McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-mckee/)

> [“The atmosphere is always very grave when I walk into a cemetery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-atmosphere-is-always-very-grave-when-i-walk-into-a-cemetery/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [One thing I learned is that it's never OK to walk through a cemetery dressed as a mummy - even if that was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/one-thing-i-learned-is-that-it-s-never-ok-to-walk-through-a-cemetery/)

[Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/)

> [“My walk through the cemetery was an acquaintance with local history.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-s-wren/my-walk-through-the-cemetery-was-an-acquaintance-with-local-history/)

Christopher S. Wren

## More by The Harvard Lampoon

> [“It suddenly occurred to me that, after all that frolicking in the meadows, he hadn't kissed me. Was it because of the mold that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/it-suddenly-occurred-to-me-that-after-all-that-frolicking-in-the/)

[The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

> [“Allow me," said the elf, proffering Gimlet's beard to Frito, who was now sneezing uncontrollably.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/allow-me-said-the-elf-proffering-gimlet-s-beard-to-frito-who-was-now/)

[The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

> [“As soon as we were inside, Edwart's family rushed to greet me. What seemed like thirty people circled me, chattering away. "Oh my god,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/as-soon-as-we-were-inside-edwart-s-family-rushed-to-greet-me-what/)

[The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

> [“I want to leave all my friends and the sunlight for a small, rainy town.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/i-want-to-leave-all-my-friends-and-the-sunlight-for-a-small-rainy-town/)

[The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

> [“So all this time you thought I was a vampire? ' Edwart whispered furiously, pulling me a few inches to the left. 'Sure,' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/so-all-this-time-you-thought-i-was-a-vampire-edwart-whispered/)

[The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

> [“Nice piano," I said. "Do you play?" "oh no, but Edwart does!" Eva Mullen said. "A little," Edwart said sheepishly. "Go ahead, play!" Eva…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/nice-piano-i-said-do-you-play-oh-no-but-edwart-does-eva-mullen-said-a/)

[The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

> [“Quick, I told myself. Try to remember what you learned from Jimbo's Self Defence for Young Ladies. Jimbo was a beefy man with prison…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/quick-i-told-myself-try-to-remember-what-you-learned-from-jimbo-s/)

[The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

> [“Elf-dog," hissed Gimlet, retrieving his beard. "Pig of a dwarf," suggested Legolam. "Toymaker." "Gold-digger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/elf-dog-hissed-gimlet-retrieving-his-beard-pig-of-a-dwarf-suggested/)

[The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

> [“Listen' he whispered ferociously, like a ferocious breeze or a very gentle hurricane.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/listen-he-whispered-ferociously-like-a-ferocious-breeze-or-a-very/)

[The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

> [“I balked. Another vampire? I guess it made sense; the states of the Pacific Northwest were known for their lenient monster laws.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/i-balked-another-vampire-i-guess-it-made-sense-the-states-of-the/)

[The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

> [“The two things I look for in a guy is how tall he is and whether or not he's a vampire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/the-two-things-i-look-for-in-a-guy-is-how-tall-he-is-and-whether-or-2/)

[The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

> [“picked!” I reply. I can’t stand Badge. She’s so stuck-up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/picked-i-reply-i-can-t-stand-badge-she-s-so-stuck-up/)

[The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

> [“You should have seen the costumes for the last few prom themes: Pimps and their srteet ho's; CEOs and their office ho's; GI Joes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/you-should-have-seen-the-costumes-for-the-last-few-prom-themes-pimps/)

[The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

> [“After dinner, Edwart took me upstairs to see his room. At the top of the stairs was a giant wooden cross. "Ironic, huh?" Edwart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/after-dinner-edwart-took-me-upstairs-to-see-his-room-at-the-top-of/)

[The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

> [“All of a sudden, he began to laugh. Had I said something funny? Had he? How long had I been spacing out for, slowly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/all-of-a-sudden-he-began-to-laugh-had-i-said-something-funny-had-he/)

[The Harvard Lampoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

[Explore all 27 The Harvard Lampoon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/)

## More Walk Cemetery quotes

> [“The atmosphere is always very grave when I walk into a cemetery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-atmosphere-is-always-very-grave-when-i-walk-into-a-cemetery/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [One thing I learned is that it's never OK to walk through a cemetery dressed as a mummy - even if that was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/one-thing-i-learned-is-that-it-s-never-ok-to-walk-through-a-cemetery/)

[Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/)

> [“My walk through the cemetery was an acquaintance with local history.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-s-wren/my-walk-through-the-cemetery-was-an-acquaintance-with-local-history/)

Christopher S. Wren

Browse all 4 Walk Cemetery quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“How about we walk back? Through the cemetery ?' One thing my mom had taught me is that it's difficult to refuse requests made in italics.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "The Harvard Lampoon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/how-about-we-walk-back-through-the-cemetery-one-thing-my-mom-had/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Walk Cemetery"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/how-about-we-walk-back-through-the-cemetery-one-thing-my-mom-had/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/660/the-harvard-lampoon-22750_quote_how-about-we-walk-back-through-the-cemet_2018616.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/660/the-harvard-lampoon-22750_quote_how-about-we-walk-back-through-the-cemet_2018616.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/660/the-harvard-lampoon-22750_quote_how-about-we-walk-back-through-the-cemet_2018616.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“How about we walk back? Through the cemetery ?' One thing my mom had taught me is that it's difficult to…” — The Harvard Lampoon",
                "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": "The Harvard Lampoon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-harvard-lampoon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“How about we walk back? Through...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/how-about-we-walk-back-through-the-cemetery-one-thing-my-mom-had/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-harvard-lampoon/how-about-we-walk-back-through-the-cemetery-one-thing-my-mom-had/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
