---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Strangers, modest enough elsewhere…"
description: "\"“Strangers, modest enough elsewhere, started up at dinners in Coketown, and boasted, in quite a rampant way, of Bounderby. They made him out to be the..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/charles-dickens-34_bill-of-rights_strangers-modest-enough-elsewhere-starte_1023191.jpg"
---

#  Strangers, modest enough elsewhere, started up at dinners…

![“Strangers, modest enough elsewhere, started up at dinners in Coketown, and boasted, in quite a rampant way, of Bounderby. They made him out to be the Royal arms, the Union-Jack, Magna Charta, John Bull, Habeas Corpus, the Bill of Rights, An Englishman’s house is his castle, Church and State, and…” quote by Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/charles-dickens-34_bill-of-rights_strangers-modest-enough-elsewhere-starte_1023191.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/charles-dickens-34_bill-of-rights_strangers-modest-enough-elsewhere-starte_1023191.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/charles-dickens-34_bill-of-rights_strangers-modest-enough-elsewhere-starte_1023191.jpg)

> ““Strangers, modest enough elsewhere, started up at dinners in Coketown, and boasted, in quite a rampant way, of Bounderby.  They made him out to be the Royal arms, the Union-Jack, Magna Charta, John Bull, Habeas Corpus, the Bill of Rights, An Englishman’s house is his castle, Church and State, and God save the Queen, all put together.  And as often (and it was very often) as an orator””

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Society builds grand symbols around a man, attributing power and identity to him beyond his true self.

**In simple terms:** People project grand ideas onto individuals.

Key Takeaway

Question imposed identities.

Themes

identity societal expectations hero worship

Mood

critical analytical

Type

literary social commentary

When to use this quote

- leadership
- public speaking
- media analysis
- personal branding

Key Concepts

sociology political symbolism

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you see projected identities?
- When have you felt reduced to a symbol?

A Different Perspective

These symbols can constrain authentic expression.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bill of rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bill-of-rights/) [Church and state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-and-state/) [Habeas corpus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habeas-corpus/)

## Related quotes

> [The liberty of the Press is the Palladium of all the civil, political and religious rights of an Englishman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius/the-liberty-of-the-press-is-the-palladium-of-all-the-civil-political/)

[Junius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius/)

> [O, pluck was he to the backbone and clear grit through and through; Boasted and bragged like a trooper; but the big words wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-fenimore-woolson/o-pluck-was-he-to-the-backbone-and-clear-grit-through-and-through/)

[Constance Fenimore Woolson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-fenimore-woolson/)

> [One thing that does seem to me to be fairly consistent is that presidents who restrict civil liberties, even in wartime, are usually judged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-greenberg/one-thing-that-does-seem-to-me-to-be-fairly-consistent-is-that/)

[David Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-greenberg/)

> [We are so considerate of the minute constitutional rights and even of the political feelings and influence of people whom we have every reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/westbrook-pegler/we-are-so-considerate-of-the-minute-constitutional-rights-and-even-of/)

[Westbrook Pegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/westbrook-pegler/)

> [“Few would argue against safe-guarding the nation. But in the judgment of at least one of the country's most distinguished presidential scholars, the legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/few-would-argue-against-safe-guarding-the-nation-but-in-the-judgment/)

[Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/)

> [Freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of person under protection of habeas corpus; and trial by juries impartially selected, these principles form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/freedom-of-religion-freedom-of-the-press-freedom-of-person-under/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [The Justices are currently considering a case, argued last month, which seeks to extend the writ of habeas corpus to al Qaeda and Taliban…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/the-justices-are-currently-considering-a-case-argued-last-month-which/)

[John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/)

> [Why are we proud? We are proud, first of all, because from the beginning of this Nation, a man can walk upright, no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/why-are-we-proud-we-are-proud-first-of-all-because-from-the-beginning/)

[Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/)

> [Freedom of the person under the protection of habeas corpus. I deem one of the essential principles of our government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/freedom-of-the-person-under-the-protection-of-habeas-corpus-i-deem/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [Prisoners, according to the law, who are non-U.S. citizens and are detained outside the U.S. - including in Guantanamo Bay - are denied 'habeas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/prisoners-according-to-the-law-who-are-non-u-s-citizens-and-are/)

[Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/)

> [“Jefferson's ambivalence toward the French Revolution matters. As a key founder of the American republic, he bridges the moderate and radical Enlightenments. He tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-r-holmes/jefferson-s-ambivalence-toward-the-french-revolution-matters-as-a-key/)

[Kim R. Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-r-holmes/)

> [“I was once asked if I had any ideas for a really scary reality TV show. I have one reality show that would really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-once-asked-if-i-had-any-ideas-for-a-really-scary-reality-tv/)

[Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/)

> [“The only word these corporations know is more,” wrote Chris Hedges, former correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor, National Public Radio, and the New York…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-marrs/the-only-word-these-corporations-know-is-more-wrote-chris-hedges/)

[Jim Marrs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-marrs/)

> [The real test of one's belief in the doctrine of Habeas Corpus is not when one demands its application on behalf of one's friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/the-real-test-of-one-s-belief-in-the-doctrine-of-habeas-corpus-is-not/)

[Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/)

> [“For the same reason , the American government has invented a completely new juridical category , that of 'illegal enemy combatants'. In general, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tzvetan-todorov/for-the-same-reason-the-american-government-has-invented-a-completely/)

[Tzvetan Todorov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tzvetan-todorov/)

## More by Charles Dickens

> [“All other swindlers upon earth are nothing to the self-swindlers, and with such pretences did I cheat myself. Surely a curious thing. That I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/all-other-swindlers-upon-earth-are-nothing-to-the-self-swindlers-and/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [... Arthur Gride, whose bleared eyes gloated only over the outward beauties, and were blind to the spirit which reigned within, evinced - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/arthur-gride-whose-bleared-eyes-gloated-only-over-the-outward/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [There can be no disparity in marriage like unsuitability of mind and purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-can-be-no-disparity-in-marriage-like-unsuitability-of-mind-and/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [A new heart for a New Year, always!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/a-new-heart-for-a-new-year-always/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [“Mrs. Joe was a very clean housekeeper, but had an exquisite art of making her cleanliness more uncomfortable and unacceptable than dirt itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mrs-joe-was-a-very-clean-housekeeper-but-had-an-exquisite-art-of/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [There seems a magic in the very name of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/there-seems-a-magic-in-the-very-name-of-christmas/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [“evening, they began to think that although he could never hope to be an Englishman, still it would be hard to visit that affliction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/evening-they-began-to-think-that-although-he-could-never-hope-to-be/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [“Besides which, all that I could have said of the Story to any purpose, I had endeavoured to say in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/besides-which-all-that-i-could-have-said-of-the-story-to-any-purpose/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [“The wheels rolled on, and rolled down by the Monument, and by the Tower; and by the Docks; down by Ratcliffe, and by Rotherhithe;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-wheels-rolled-on-and-rolled-down-by-the-monument-and-by-the-tower/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [“The three customers pulled off their hats to Madame Defarge, with three flourishes. She acknowledged their homage by bending her head, and giving them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-three-customers-pulled-off-their-hats-to-madame-defarge-with/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [“What a situation!' cried Miss Squeers; '...What is the reason that men fall in love with me, whether I like it or not, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/what-a-situation-cried-miss-squeers-what-is-the-reason-that-men-fall/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [“Mr. Pickwick was a philosopher, but philosophers are only men in armour, after all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/mr-pickwick-was-a-philosopher-but-philosophers-are-only-men-in-armour/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

[Explore all 2,309 Charles Dickens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

## More Bill of rights quotes

> [Some of the folks on both sides might be sincere, but it does seem as if it is only the opposition that cares about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/some-of-the-folks-on-both-sides-might-be-sincere-but-it-does-seem-as/)

[James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/)

> [“I have a recurring fantasy that one more article has been added to the Bill of Rights: the right to free access to imagination.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/i-have-a-recurring-fantasy-that-one-more-article-has-been-added-to/)

[Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/)

> [“manager’s bill of rights,” those basic things that you have a right to expect from your employees. Responsible employees: Are responsive to feedback Keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-andersen/manager-s-bill-of-rights-those-basic-things-that-you-have-a-right-to/)

[Erika Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-andersen/)

> [“To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them." -George Mason - Father of the Bill of Rights”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-goodwin/to-disarm-the-people-is-the-best-and-most-effectual-way-to-enslave/)

[Mark Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-goodwin/)

> [A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-bill-of-rights-is-what-the-people-are-entitled-to-against-every/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [The average citizen expresses pride in the American Bill of Rights and then seeks to protect his real estate by restrictive covenants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-allen-overstreet/the-average-citizen-expresses-pride-in-the-american-bill-of-rights/)

[Harry Allen Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-allen-overstreet/)

> [“Among those liberties which we in this UNION claim for the child, due to him as a person, is freedom of thought, the function…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parents-national-education-union/among-those-liberties-which-we-in-this-union-claim-for-the-child-due/)

[Parents' National Education Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parents-national-education-union/)

> [To be patriotic is to be able to question government policy in times of crisis. To be patriotic is to stand up for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-al-arian/to-be-patriotic-is-to-be-able-to-question-government-policy-in-times/)

[Sami Al-Arian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-al-arian/)

> [Everybody now seems to be talking about democracy. I don't understand this. As I think of it, democracy isn't like a Sunday suit to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/everybody-now-seems-to-be-talking-about-democracy-i-don-t-understand/)

[Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/)

> [We have a list of human rights - right to food, right to shelter, right to health, right to education, many such items which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/we-have-a-list-of-human-rights-right-to-food-right-to-shelter-right/)

[Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/)

> [If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-this-nation-is-to-be-wise-as-well-as-strong-if-we-are-to-achieve/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“In the first movement, our infancy as a species, we felt no separation from the natural world around us. Trees, rocks, and plants surrounded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-macy/in-the-first-movement-our-infancy-as-a-species-we-felt-no-separation/)

[Joanna Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-macy/)

> [To take a single step beyond the boundaries specially drawn around the powers of Congress is to take possession of a boundless field of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-take-a-single-step-beyond-the-boundaries-specially-drawn-around/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [Bill of Rights was Madison, I'm going with Madison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/bill-of-rights-was-madison-i-m-going-with-madison/)

[Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/)

> [The notion that Americans can be protected from "terror" by giving up the Bill of Rights is absurd. Democrats are complicit in this absurd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/the-notion-that-americans-can-be-protected-from-terror-by-giving-up/)

[Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/)

[Browse all 294 Bill of rights quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bill-of-rights/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Strangers, modest enough elsewhere, started up at dinners in Coketown, and boasted, in quite a rampant way, of Bounderby.  They made him out to be the Royal arms, the Union-Jack, Magna Charta, John Bull, Habeas Corpus, the Bill of Rights, An Englishman’s house is his castle, Church and State, and God save the Queen, all put together.  And as often (and it was very often) as an orator”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles Dickens"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/strangers-modest-enough-elsewhere-started-up-at-dinners-in-coketown/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bill of rights"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/strangers-modest-enough-elsewhere-started-up-at-dinners-in-coketown/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/charles-dickens-34_bill-of-rights_strangers-modest-enough-elsewhere-starte_1023191.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/charles-dickens-34_bill-of-rights_strangers-modest-enough-elsewhere-starte_1023191.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c5d/charles-dickens-34_bill-of-rights_strangers-modest-enough-elsewhere-starte_1023191.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Strangers, modest enough elsewhere, started up at dinners in Coketown, and boasted, in quite a rampant way…” — Charles Dickens",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Charles Dickens",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Strangers, modest enough elsewhere, started up...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/strangers-modest-enough-elsewhere-started-up-at-dinners-in-coketown/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/strangers-modest-enough-elsewhere-started-up-at-dinners-in-coketown/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
