This Earle of Oxford, making of his low obeisance to Queen Elizabeth, happened to let a Fart, at which he was so abashed and ashamed that he went to Travell, 7 yeares. On his returne the Queen welcomed him home, and sayd, My Lord, I had forgott the Fart.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A nobleman was so embarrassed by a social mishap that he left the country for years.
- In plain terms
- A lord fled because he farted in front of the Queen.
- What can you take from it?
- Social embarrassment can drive extreme reactions.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you handle public mistakes?
- Have social norms changed since then?
Another view
This anecdote may be apocryphal or exaggerated.
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