Meaning: This quote by Jean Kerr, a renowned playwright, humorously captures the discomfort that professionals may feel when dealing with situations that challenge their expertise. By likening a lawyer's unease with a friendly divorce to a mortician's discomfort with a patient sitting up on the table after finishing their job, Kerr highlights the unexpected and disconcerting nature of these scenarios.

In the context of the legal profession, the quote suggests that a lawyer, whose role often involves navigating contentious and adversarial situations, may find it unsettling to handle an amicable divorce. This is because the lawyer is accustomed to dealing with conflict, negotiation, and advocacy on behalf of their clients. In a friendly divorce, where the spouses are parting ways amicably, the lawyer's usual role as a mediator and advocate may be less pronounced, leading to a sense of unease or unfamiliarity.

Similarly, the analogy to a mortician encountering a patient sitting up on the table after completing their job emphasizes the unexpected and unsettling nature of a situation that defies professional norms. A mortician's job is to prepare the deceased for burial or cremation, and the idea of the patient sitting up goes against the natural order of the mortician's work, causing discomfort and unease.

This quote also speaks to the human aspect of professions that often deal with sensitive or challenging circumstances. Lawyers and morticians are both professionals who work in fields where emotions, grief, and difficult decisions are common. The quote suggests that, despite their professional expertise, these individuals may still experience discomfort or unease when faced with situations that deviate from their typical experiences.

Furthermore, the quote reflects the idea that professionals have expectations and norms within their respective fields. When these expectations are disrupted, it can create a sense of unease or discomfort. In the case of a lawyer dealing with a friendly divorce, the absence of acrimony and conflict may challenge the lawyer's usual approach and mindset. Similarly, for a mortician, encountering a patient sitting up after completing the embalming process disrupts the expected outcome of their work.

In a broader sense, the quote alludes to the fundamental human experience of dealing with the unexpected and the unfamiliar. It underscores the notion that even professionals, with their expertise and training, are not immune to the discomfort that can arise when faced with unforeseen or unconventional circumstances within their respective fields.

In conclusion, Jean Kerr's quote humorously captures the discomfort that professionals may experience when confronted with situations that challenge their expertise and expectations. By drawing parallels between a lawyer's unease with a friendly divorce and a mortician's discomfort with a patient sitting up on the table, the quote provides a thought-provoking commentary on the unexpected and disconcerting nature of such scenarios within the legal and mortuary professions.