--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only customers they'd get on a day…" description: "\"“The only customers they'd get on a day like this were lunatics -- well, lunatics and hopeless romantics with a fetish for the smell of dusty old books..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/katherine-pine-19375_books_the-only-customers-they-d-get-on-a-day-l_2087387.jpg" --- # The only customers they'd get on a day like this were… ![“The only customers they'd get on a day like this were lunatics -- well, lunatics and hopeless romantics with a fetish for the smell of dusty old books, which in their eyes probably amounted to the same thing.” quote by Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/katherine-pine-19375_books_the-only-customers-they-d-get-on-a-day-l_2087387.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/katherine-pine-19375_books_the-only-customers-they-d-get-on-a-day-l_2087387.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/katherine-pine-19375_books_the-only-customers-they-d-get-on-a-day-l_2087387.jpg) > ““The only customers they'd get on a day like this were lunatics -- well, lunatics and hopeless romantics with a fetish for the smell of dusty old books, which in their eyes probably amounted to the same thing.”” [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes a niche group of customers drawn to the romantic, nostalgic allure of old books, equating them with lunatics. **In simple terms:** Old‑book lovers are seen as eccentric romantics. Key Takeaway Embrace unique passions despite societal labels. Themes nostalgia romanticism eccentricity consumer behavior Mood melancholic reflective Type observational literary When to use this quote - bookstores - literary events - collectors - online forums - marketing strategies Key Concepts fetish nostalgia identity subculture Questions to Reflect On - What drives people to cherish antiquated objects? - How can businesses honor such niche interests? A Different Perspective May overlook broader market potential beyond this niche. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Hopeless Romantics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopeless-romantics/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [By the time we hit the streets they were silent and closed in on us, and they had assumed the Nonchalant Look, an expression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-kaysen/by-the-time-we-hit-the-streets-they-were-silent-and-closed-in-on-us/) [Susanna Kaysen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-kaysen/) > [Im's offspring stare at stars and make clocks that calculate useless happenings like the angle of a hawk's claws as it strikes its prey.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/im-s-offspring-stare-at-stars-and-make-clocks-that-calculate-useless/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [I really suggest listening to talk radio. 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Call us hopeless romantics, call it the triumph…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-cooper/we-all-support-the-idea-of-a-strong-marriage-we-all-clearly-like-a/) [Yvette Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-cooper/) > [“Too often, the hopeless romantics among us are wishing and praying for the Right One to come along and sweep them off their feet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-e-castillo/too-often-the-hopeless-romantics-among-us-are-wishing-and-praying-for/) [Elizabeth E. Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-e-castillo/) > [“Erotic Romance authors are just hopeless romantics with a dirty mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audri-nichols/erotic-romance-authors-are-just-hopeless-romantics-with-a-dirty-mind/) Audri Nichols > [We''re all misfits here,” he says, almost proudly. “That's why I started this squat, after all. For people like us, who don't fit in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-windling/we-re-all-misfits-here-he-says-almost-proudly-that-s-why-i-started/) [Terri Windling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-windling/) > [There are hopeless romantics.. in my case, I'm a hopeless dreamer coz everytime I see you, i'm reminded of my hopeless dream..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-hopeless-romantics-in-my-case-i-m-a-hopeless-dreamer-coz/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Oh yes, We've all danced to this particular tune at one time in our lives. In my experience, the majority of women are hopeless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-sanderson/oh-yes-we-ve-all-danced-to-this-particular-tune-at-one-time-in-our/) [Catherine Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-sanderson/) > [Every person is a possibility. The hopeless romantics feel it most acutely, but even for others, the only way to keep going is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/every-person-is-a-possibility-the-hopeless-romantics-feel-it-most/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“We all grow old, even books. But are you, is anyone, worth less, or less important, because they’ve been around for longer?’ ‘It’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-george/we-all-grow-old-even-books-but-are-you-is-anyone-worth-less-or-less/) [Nina George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-george/) > [“Now don't think I've lost my mind - but I'll tell you, I'll look at some of the cards I have, some of Van…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/now-don-t-think-i-ve-lost-my-mind-but-i-ll-tell-you-i-ll-look-at-some/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [“And yet sometimes she worried about what those musty old books were doing to her. Some people majored in English to prepare for law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides-the-marriage-plot-2/and-yet-sometimes-she-worried-about-what-those-musty-old-books-were/) Jeffrey Eugenides, The Marriage Plot ## More by Katherine Pine > [“Oz closed his eyes and grit his teeth. For a few minutes I thought he wouldn't say anything at all, just haul me over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/oz-closed-his-eyes-and-grit-his-teeth-for-a-few-minutes-i-thought-he/) [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) > [“I didn't want to think about it. Indulging someone's insanity like this couldn't be healthy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/i-didn-t-want-to-think-about-it-indulging-someone-s-insanity-like/) [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) > [“Forneus glared at us from the driver's seat with eyes glowing with the promise of purple vengeance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/forneus-glared-at-us-from-the-driver-s-seat-with-eyes-glowing-with/) [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) > [“He grinned. "You're easy, I like that." I didn't really have a response. I guess I was easy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/he-grinned-you-re-easy-i-like-that-i-didn-t-really-have-a-response-i/) [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) > [“No, I mean I can't kiss you while you think about your brother." My grip on his shirt loosened. It did sound bad when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/no-i-mean-i-can-t-kiss-you-while-you-think-about-your-brother-my-grip/) [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) > [“For all intents and purposes, Cammy was now my imaginary friend, since no one could see him except my boyfriend and the satanic chauvinist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/for-all-intents-and-purposes-cammy-was-now-my-imaginary-friend-since/) [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) > [“I actually really don't want to know," I admitted. "Up until a few seconds ago I had a lot of illusions about you being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/i-actually-really-don-t-want-to-know-i-admitted-up-until-a-few/) [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) > [“Every part of her was still except her hair, which blew round her face in the damp night like Medusa's serpentine locks rearing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/every-part-of-her-was-still-except-her-hair-which-blew-round-her-face/) [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) > [“Maybe this kind of devotion is sinful," I continued. "Perhaps it was even the origin of sin. But you and I are already damned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/maybe-this-kind-of-devotion-is-sinful-i-continued-perhaps-it-was-even/) [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) > [“To Oz's credit, he didn't say anything, probably because he'd decided that trying to converse with someone so temperamental wasn't worth it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/to-oz-s-credit-he-didn-t-say-anything-probably-because-he-d-decided/) [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) > [“Great. Men affectionately attacked me with sticks to show their admiration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/great-men-affectionately-attacked-me-with-sticks-to-show-their/) [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) > [“Then he was on his knees in front of me. "Come here Princess," he cooed. My pulse spiked. I wondered if I should slap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/then-he-was-on-his-knees-in-front-of-me-come-here-princess-he-cooed/) [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) > [“Don't worry about it. He's just moody because it's been about nine months since he's gotten laid, and he thinks I'm going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/don-t-worry-about-it-he-s-just-moody-because-it-s-been-about-nine/) [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) > [“He just stared at me. "Stop looking at me like that," I begged. Immediately he changed the angle at which he looked at me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/he-just-stared-at-me-stop-looking-at-me-like-that-i-begged/) [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) > [“A man killing himself in the pursuit of his dreams is no different in a moth flying into a flame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/a-man-killing-himself-in-the-pursuit-of-his-dreams-is-no-different-in/) [Katherine Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) [Explore all 32 Katherine Pine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. 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Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The only customers they'd get on a day like this were lunatics -- well, lunatics and hopeless romantics with a fetish for the smell of dusty old books, which in their eyes probably amounted to the same thing.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Katherine Pine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/the-only-customers-they-d-get-on-a-day-like-this-were-lunatics-well/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/the-only-customers-they-d-get-on-a-day-like-this-were-lunatics-well/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/katherine-pine-19375_books_the-only-customers-they-d-get-on-a-day-l_2087387.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/katherine-pine-19375_books_the-only-customers-they-d-get-on-a-day-l_2087387.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72a/katherine-pine-19375_books_the-only-customers-they-d-get-on-a-day-l_2087387.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only customers they'd get on a day like this were lunatics -- well, lunatics and hopeless romantics with…” — Katherine Pine", "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": "Katherine Pine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-pine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The only customers they'd get on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/the-only-customers-they-d-get-on-a-day-like-this-were-lunatics-well/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-pine/the-only-customers-they-d-get-on-a-day-like-this-were-lunatics-well/#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 } } ] } ```