Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.
Alexander PopeRead
No louder shrieks to pitying heaven are cast, When husbands or lap-dogs breathe their last.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote humorously highlights how society often mourns pets as much as, or more than, human beings.
In this quote, Alexander Pope uses irony to critique societal values and the disproportionate reactions to death. He suggests that the grief expressed for a husband or a lap-dog when they pass away may not be significantly different, hinting at a world where the loss of a beloved pet gets equal if not more attention than that of a human partner, thereby questioning the nature of love and attachment in relationships.
Themes
DeathHumorPetsRelationshipsGrief
In practice
Example use cases
During a eulogy, one might reference this quote to lighten the mood when discussing cherished pets.
More from Alexander Pope
All quotes βWhat dire offence from am'rous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things.
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Fair tresses man's imperial race ensnare; And beauty draws us with a single hair.
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An honest man's the noblest work of God.
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One thought of thee puts all the pomp to flight;_x000D_ _x000D_ Priests, tapers, temples, swim before my sight.
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Who breaks a butterfly on a wheel?
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