The Hotel New Hampshire Quotes
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Source: The Hotel New Hampshire
Author: John Irving
"If the world would stop indulging wars and famines and other perils, it would be possible for human beings to embarrass each other to death."
…if the world would stop indulging wars and famines and other perils, it would be possible for human beings to embarrass each other to death. Our self-destruction might take a little longer that way, but I believe it would be no less complete.
Context
The narrator of The Hotel New Hampshire, John Berry, thinks these thoughts at a New Year's Eve party—just after he has been thoroughly embarrassed by everyone. Let's tally it up, shall we?
- He's embarrassed by all the members of his family except Franny.
- He's embarrassed by Sleazy and Doris Wales and the rest of the live band.
- And, to make matters worse, there are girls at the party like Bitty Tuck, whose very presence makes him embarrassed.
Happy new year?
Where you've heard it
This one seems deeper than it really is; you might just hear it if someone's embarrassed...
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
Sure, it comes from a lesser known piece of literature...but everyone feels embarrassed now and again, right?