Meaning of a sentence: The education they always regretted not having would...

[Sophie]

In my test, there is a sentence like that:
" The education they always regretted not having would have had cocktails on the syllabus ...."
I don't understand it, especially "would have had cocktails on the syllabus".
Thank you very much for your explanation.
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On earth there is nothing great but man, in man there is nothing great but mind.

[Nguyendavis]

Hi Sophia

In your sentence, the word "cocktails" might be understood as "any combination of diverse elements".

With this regards, the phrase "would have had cocktails on the syllabus" may mean "the syllabus has a lot of (interesting) things to learn or study.

The whole sentence on its own would mean "The education they always regretted not having would have been very advanced and have many things useful to learn"

Best regards,

[Sophie]

Oh, I've got it. Thank you very much for your clear explanation !!
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On earth there is nothing great but man, in man there is nothing great but mind.

[Ralf]

Hi Sophia,

The sentence is a joke. And it doesn't sound very natural either. Let me rephrase it for you:

They have always regretted to have missed out on the chance to go out more rather then studying hard.
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[Sophie]

Let me give you the whole passage:
"My parents never went to - still less gave - a party. The education they always regretted not having would have had cocktails on the syllabus, and small talk and the ability to converse, and the necessary accomplishment of saying things one does not mean. Some people are at ease with themselves, so the world is at ease with them. My parents thought this kind of ease was produced by education. They didn't see that, what disqualified them was temperatement, just as, though educated up to the hilt, it disqualified me. What keeps us in our place is embarrassment. "
So "my parents" are not well - educated. It means they regretted not having a proper education. I just don't understand the phrase : "have cocktails on the syllabus".
Anyway, thank you very much for helping me. Hope that you'll clarify the sentence again, with the context above.
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On earth there is nothing great but man, in man there is nothing great but mind.

[Ralf]

Hi Sophie,

The way I see it, those parents are quite educated indeed. And what they should regret is the lack of indulgence in parties. Cocktail parties, if you will. So 'cocktails on the syllabus' works as a ironic dig at the parents missed opportunities to attend (cocktail) parties. The only ever focussed on education (their syllabus).

What's the book?
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Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL Preparation & TOEFL Vocabulary
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[Yankee]

Hi Sophie

To me that passage means that the parents never learned or mastered "social skills" They originally assumed that "book-learning" was the only type of education that anyone would need.
.
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"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Barb_D]

Actually, I have another interpretation to this entirely.

The parents felt that if they had gone to school (American use. "University" elsewhere) they would have been more at ease in social situations. They felt that a formal eductaion also included learning how to master the art of the "cocktail party" in which people make small talk, laugh, etc.

[Sophie]

OH, Barb D, I totally agree with you. We can see it from these sentences: "My parents thought this kind of ease was produced by education. They didn't see that, what disqualified them was temperatement, just as, though educated up to the hilt, it disqualified me."
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On earth there is nothing great but man, in man there is nothing great but mind.