Neither More Elegant Nor More Picturesque
"True hospitality is sharing your life . . . with those outside the family circle. False hospitality is trying to re-vamp your life with camouflage and pretense so that it will fool a guest into thinking your life more elegant and more picturesque than it really is."
--Irene Parrott, Friday to Monday (1941)
13 comments:
Wonderful quote! I'm sure I'm not the only woman around who has a hard time consistently showing true hospitality, rather than false. Thanks for this profound reminder of what it's all about.
Such a good reminder - I am often tricked into thinking that to be hospitable my house needs to be as picturesque as those in a magazine - which as your quote pronounces is so far from the truth.
Thank you for this gentle reminder heading into the weekend. I was just starting to count in my head all the things I had to do before our dinner guests arrive tomorrow night. I think I will cross "scrub toilets" off the list :)
I was thinking about how we clean the house and 'plump the pillows' before having company and wondering if this was trying to be more elegant or picturesque. I think the little details I add to make the place prettier for guests are part of trying to 'raise my game' generally, as some of those habits stick for a while afterwards. I've not forgotten what my Dad used to say - don't save your best manners or your good silver for strangers, use them for the people you love.
Yes! This quote reminded me of a lesson Pollyanna learns in, I think, Pollyanna Grows Up, where a frequent guest to their home disrupts their routine and budget until she and Jimmy realise that they can't continue that way and instead offer their guest the home comforts, simple but sufficient, to which they are accustomed. It's a beautiful picture of true hospitality - sharing what you have, not showing off beyond your means.
Yes, this is a good reminder.
Lisateresa
Love it! My general motto on this is 'treat your family like guests and your guests like family.' that sort of keeps it real & balanced for me.
I've often had similar thoughts regarding blogging. The control of what's shared is completely in the author's hands and one's life can appear to be flawless, without the normal thorns and what have you that most people face.
I love the quote and the last comment ,about how blogging is similar in a sense...good thoughts:)
This quote is going in my personal book of quotes.
Thanks for sharing it.
Your blog is a breath of fresh air.
Thank you for showing a normal-looking home where love, joy and happiness are evident.
Love the picture of the apples!
hello Anna, it looks like things are dry around your way, given that the sprinkler is on. Was this wedding weekend? Hence the quote?
Yes! They're married . . . we're recovering . . . pictures to come~
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