Finish

Reading Soderberg's Finishing Technology, I was struck by the beauty of this passage, which I think is susceptible of a rich metaphorical application (to ethics, construction of philosophical arguments, research, etc.):

The final finish of a given surface is a most important step in the total procedure of fabricating a product, yet too little emphasis is placd upon this important step. Often the finish is considered a secondary operation. Many fabricators believe that some materials need no finish to protect them from the elements of nature. This may be true for a short period of time, but all too often these surfaces deteriorate rapidly after prolonged exposure. The appearance of some materials cannot be enhanced by surface finishing because of the natural beauty of the material. These unprotected surfaces often lose their beauty through abrasion or contact with the elements. Thus, with few exceptions, all finishes serve to protect or decorate, or both. Consideration should be given to the finish during the design and fabrication of every product.

[Soderberg, Finishing Technology. 3rd edition (McKnight & McKnight: 1969) p. 3]