"If a man dreams that he has committed a sin before which the sun hid his face, it is often safe to conjecture that, in sheer forgetfulness, he wore a red tie, or brown boots with evening dress"

Arthur Machen, a celebrated Welsh author understood for his works of supernatural and horror fiction, crafted this quote in a way that integrates irony with a commentary on the nature of viewed sins and social norms. The line suggests that a "sin" remarkable sufficient to cause the sun to hide its face-- a hyperbolic expression-- when understood upon waking is often something minor or socially frowned upon, instead of morally egregious.

On the surface area, Machen seems to be addressing the discrepancy in between real ethical misdeed and the societal or cultural perceptions of it. In some societies, specifically those more concerned with looks and social propriety, little breaches of rules, such as bad style choices-- using a red tie or brown boots with evening dress, which would have been thought about substantial faux pas-- might be concerned with disproportionate intensity.

In this light, Machen's declaration plays on the absurdity of overstated regret over what are, in essence, small breaches of decorum. The grand sin that might trigger cosmic dismay is, in truth, something as harmless as an oversight in one's attire. This reflects how societal requirements can in some cases inflate the significance of trivial information while neglecting more substantial ethical lapses.

Furthermore, the use of the word "dreams" can be interpreted as checking out the subconscious mind, where petty concerns are amplified into problems, showing individual stress and anxieties about social judgment. The embellishment of the sun concealing its face underlines the parody nature of how society views certain "sins.".

Machen's quote can be viewed as a critique of how individuals are conditioned to stress over conforming to societal standards at the detriment of authentic morality. It recommends a reflection on the true nature of sin and guilt, prompting a re-evaluation of what is genuinely crucial: ethical integrity over cosmetic compliance.