Quote by Charles Dickens

There are some promotions in life, which, independent of the more substantial rewards they offer, acquire peculiar value and dignity from the coats and waistcoats connected with them. A field-marshal has his uniform; a bishop his silk apron; a counsellor his silk gown; a beadle his cocked hat. Strip the bishop of his apron, or the beadle of his hat and lace; what are they? Men. Mere men. Dignity, and even holiness too, sometimes, are more questions of coat and waistcoat than some people imagine.

There are some promotions in life, which, independent of the

Summary

This quote highlights the role that clothing and outward symbols play in society, especially in relation to one's status and perceived value. It suggests that certain positions or occupations acquire a unique dignity and significance due to the attire associated with them. Whether it be a field-marshal's uniform, a bishop's silk apron, a counsellor's silk gown, or a beadle's cocked hat, the quote argues that the removal of these garments diminishes their identity and reduces them to ordinary individuals. It implies that dignity and even the perception of holiness are sometimes influenced by external appearances, emphasizing the significance placed on attire within societal hierarchies.

Topics

Dignity Formalities Titles

By Charles Dickens

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

The money I pay for my cultural experiences came willingly f

The money I pay for my cultural experiences came willingly from my own pocket - they were not the result of bread being removed from the mouths of the poor so that Miss Thing here could mince off to the circus smelling of roses.

Money

You don't have to be a certain thing to be cool. If you're w

You don't have to be a certain thing to be cool. If you're white, you don't have to act black or whatever. Just be you and know who you are.

Cool

Dance, when you're broken open. Dance, if you've torn the ba

Dance, when you're broken open. Dance, if you've torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you're perfectly free.

Inspirational Dance

I operate from a place of delusion-that's what the Fame is a

I operate from a place of delusion-that's what the Fame is all about... I want people to walk around delusional about how great they can be - and then to fight so hard for it every day that the lie becomes the truth.

Truth People Fame Places

As nature is an image of grace, He has done in the bounties

As nature is an image of grace, He has done in the bounties of nature what He would do in those of grace, in order that we might judge that He could make the invisible, since He made the visible excellently.

Nature Grace Order

I started to make a study of the art of war and revolution a

I started to make a study of the art of war and revolution and, whilst abroad, underwent a course in military training. If there was to be guerrilla warfare, I wanted to be able to stand and fight with my people and to share the hazards of war with them.

Art

For the superior morality, of which we hear so much, we too

For the superior morality, of which we hear so much, we too would desire to be thankful: at the same time, it were but blindness to deny that this superior morality is properly rather an inferior criminality, produced not by greater love of Virtue, but by greater perfection of Police; and of that far subtler and stronger Police, called Public Opinion.

Morals

I was taught that the way of progress I neither swift nor ea

I was taught that the way of progress I neither swift nor easy.

Progress

The priesthood in many ways is the ultimate closet in Wester

The priesthood in many ways is the ultimate closet in Western civilization, where gay people particularly have hidden for the past two thousand years.

Religion

I get it,' said the prisoner. 'Good Cop, Bad Cop, eh?'If you

I get it,' said the prisoner. 'Good Cop, Bad Cop, eh?'If you like.' said Vimes. 'But we're a bit short staffed here, so if I give you a cigarette would you mind kicking yourself in the teeth?

Terry Pratchett

Humor Funny Violence Police Interrogation

A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of th

A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.

James Freeman Clarke

Politics

The Upholder of the Cycles which supports the whole of Life,

The Upholder of the Cycles which supports the whole of Life, is water. In every drop of water dwells the Godhead, whom we all serve; there also dwells Life, the Soul of the First substance - Water - whose boundaries and banks are the capillaries that guide it and in which it circulates. More energy is encapsulated in every drop of good spring water than an average-sized PowerStation is presently able to produce.

Viktor Schauberger

Water