"Though so trifling, the success of our first Buffalo hunt gave us quite a social lift"
- Ernest Thompson Seton
About this Quote
In the quote "Though so trifling, the success of our first Buffalo hunt gave us quite a social lift," Ernest Thompson Seton reflects on an experience that, while apparently irrelevant or minor ("trifling"), had a noteworthy impact on social standing or neighborhood perception. This declaration invites readers to consider the contrast between the real magnitude of an occasion and its viewed value within a social context.
Seton's usage of the word "trifling" suggests that the buffalo hunt, in and of itself, may have been a modest endeavor with minimal immediate consequences or difficulties. Hunting in this context could describe a physical hunt, an expedition to engage with nature and acquire provisions, or possibly a metaphorical pursuit of a goal or achievement. The phrase acknowledges the simpleness or ordinariness of the action, a task that possibly did not require extraordinary ability or resources.
However, Seton highlights that in spite of the evident triviality of the hunt, its success produced a "social lift"-- an enhancement of track record or esteem in the eyes of the neighborhood. This speaks to the social worths and cultural context in which Seton and his peers ran, where neighborhood approval and acknowledgment frequently depended upon demonstrations of specific skills, achievements, or functions, such as effective hunting in a society that possibly valued self-reliance, resourcefulness, and the capability to provide.
Seton's reflection can work as a wider commentary on human social characteristics. It highlights how even actions viewed as minor within a private or collective experience can yield significant social benefits, lifting one's stature or reliability within a community. The focus on social perception underscores how societies frequently reward conformity to cultural ideals or the satisfaction of function expectations, enhancing communal bonds and shared worths even through apparently banal activities. This can be a testimony to how every action, no matter how small it appears, has the possible to impact one's social fabric, forming identity and status in significant ways.
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