A nightcap decked his brows instead of bay, A cap by night - a stocking all the day!
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The subject wore nightwear all day, ignoring conventional dress codes and roles.
- In plain terms
- He wore a nightcap at night and a stocking as a hat all day instead of real clothes.
- What can you take from it?
- Reject rigid social roles in favor of comfort.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How rigid are your routines?
- What rules do you follow blindly?
Another view
Ignoring norms can lead to social isolation or misunderstanding.
More from Oliver Goldsmith
Men may be very learned, and yet very miserable; it is easy to be a deep geometrician, or a sublime astronomer, but very difficult to be a good man. I esteem, …
Permalink to quote #2 Such dainties to them, their health it might hurt; It's like sending them ruffles, when wanting a shirt.
Permalink to quote #3 There is no arguing with Johnson: for if his pistol misses fire, he knocks you down with the butt end of it.
Permalink to quote #4
Related quotes
We're pretty straight guys: we're not boozers, we're not fucked up on drugs.
Chester BenningtonChester Bennington quote #8 That questionable superfluity-small beer.
Douglas William JerroldDouglas William Jerrold quote #14 All Reformers, however strict their social conscience, live in houses just as big as they can pay for.
Logan Pearsall SmithLogan Pearsall Smith quote #14