In nothing more is the English genius for domesticity more notably declared than in the institution of this festival-almost one may call it-of afternoon tea...the mere chink of cups and saucers tunes the mind to happy repose.
I believe in courtesy, the ritual by which we avoid hurting other people's feelings by satisfying our own egos.
Parties are the nightly ritual of the sophisticated society.
[T]ea, that uniquely English meal, that unnecessary collation at which no stimulants--neither alcohol nor meat--are served, that comforting repast of which to partake is as good as second childhood.
We usually have margaritas on Thursdays but since it's Tuesday I'll make an exception.
For many women, and a fair number of men, saying 'I'm sorry' isn't literally an apology; it's a ritual way of restoring balance to a conversation.
The modern habit of doing ceremonial things unceremoniously is no proof of humility; rather it proves the offender's inability to forget himself in the rite, and his readiness to spoil for every one else the proper pleasure of ritual.
Well, yes, but it's not about the football." "You're saying that football is not about football?" "It's the sharing," she said. "It's being part of the crowd. It's chanting together. It's all of it. the whole thing.
A commercial society whose members are essentially ascetic and indifferent in social ritual has to be provided with blueprints and specifications for evoking the right tone for every occasion.
It was as though we were a picture, trapped in time: this had been happening for hundreds of years, people sitting in a room, waiting for dinner, and listening to the blues.
The ritual of film-going in some sense replaced that of churchgoing, because you share something communal, sometimes mystical.
The space between the television set and the viewer is holy ground.
For humans, gift giving is a universal ritual laden with evolutionary implications.
There's a loyalty attached to football, and it is more communal than theatre. If you go to the football, it is part of the structure of your life. For lots of people, theatre is a treat.
Like dogs who sniff each other when meeting, chess players have a ritual at first acquaintance: they sit down to play speed chess.
Shabbat dinner is something that we do once a month.
On the whole, our modern ritual is impoverished and does not fulfill man's need for collective art and ritual.
Ceremony is-really a protection, too, in times of emotional involvement, particularly at death. If we have a social formula to guide us and do not have to extemporize, we feel better able to handle life.
If men refuse to be kindled, sparks can only burn themselves out, just as paper images and carriages burn out on the street during funerals.
I love going to the hair salon. I'm Spanish. I think it's more of a Latina thing to go to the hair salon.
I know crowds of people who go to church and the synagogue who aren't religious.
Even hidden in the most squalid Parisian halls, wrestling partakes of the nature of the great solar spectacles, Greek drama and bullfights: in both, a light without shadow generates an emotion without reserve.
I am very superstitious about toasts. I never toast with water, and I'm very careful to make eye contact with everyone I toast with.
