Clerks Quote by Edgar Allan Poe
![“The tribe of clerks was an obvious one...the junior clerks of flash houses--young gentlemen with tight coats, bright boots, well-oiled hair, and supercilious lips. Setting aside a certain dapperness of carriage, which may be termed [i]deskism[/i] for want of a better word, the manner of these…” quote by Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3db/edgar-allan-poe-315_the-more-things-chan_the-tribe-of-clerks-was-an-obvious-one-t_871479.jpg)
““The tribe of clerks was an obvious one...the junior clerks of flash houses--young gentlemen with tight coats, bright boots, well-oiled hair, and supercilious lips. Setting aside a certain dapperness of carriage, which may be termed [i]deskism[/i] for want of a better word, the manner of these persons seemed to be an exact fac-simile of what had been the perfection of [i]bon ton[/i] about twelve or eighteen months before.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Man of the Crowd”, 1840
Describes a class of office workers imitating aristocratic manners, highlighting superficiality and social mimicry.
In simple terms: Office workers copying elite style.
Key Takeaway
Beware shallow imitation in professional settings.
Themes
class
appearance
social mimicry
elitism
superficiality
Mood
critical
observational
satirical
Type
commentary
observation
cultural critique
When to use this quote
- corporate meetings
- fashion trends
- career networking
- social media personas
Key Concepts
status anxiety
identity performance
cultural critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How does adopting elite mannerisms affect personal identity?
- When does imitation become harmful?
A Different Perspective
Mimicry can mask genuine competence and authenticity.
![“Gonna rain like a cow pissin' on a flat rock" [drugstore clerk to detective Virgil Flowers] Dark of the Moon, p.7” quote by John Sandford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/887/john-sandford-5843_clerks_gonna-rain-like-a-cow-pissin-on-a-flat-r_12063.jpg)
