Logo - Feel The Words

Formality Quotes

Reflections on ritual, bureaucracy, and empty process

These lines question the value of formality itself, opening with marriage described as little more than a formality for the speaker.

Marriage is like a formality for me.

Quotes by David Copperfield

The questioning is a stupid formality aimed exclusively at preventing us from speaking at the demonstration.

Quotes by Alexei Navalny

Frequently Asked Questions

What connects these sayings about formality?
Both question whether a formal process actually carries real meaning.
Does one saying downplay marriage as a formality?
Yes, one entry describes marriage as little more than a formality for the speaker.
Is there a saying about protest and bureaucracy?
Yes, another line calls tedious questioning a stalling formality aimed at silencing a demonstration.
Do these sayings share the same target?
They apply the same skepticism to two very different formal processes.
What tone runs through this collection?
The tone is skeptical, questioning process for the sake of process.

A second, more pointed line calls out a different formality, describing tedious questioning as a stalling tactic meant to keep protesters from speaking.