Solemn Quote by Ken Follett
““There was also something false about the atmosphere here. It was solemn and dignified like a church or the court of a president or a museum. They were moneylenders, but they acted as if charging interest were a noble calling, like the priesthood.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Pillars of the Earth, 1989
Moneylenders present themselves with solemn authority, masking greed with noble pretenses.
In simple terms: Greed hides behind respectable façades.
Key Takeaway
Question appearances of authority.
Themes
power
greed
appearance
authority
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
literary
social commentary
When to use this quote
- banking
- political institutions
- religious institutions
Key Concepts
social critique
economic exploitation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discern genuine intent?
- What symbols convey false dignity?
A Different Perspective
Noble pretenses can obscure unethical motives.
![“[A]nd you may know how little God thinks of money by observing on what bad and contemptible characters he often bestows it." [ Man and the Gospel (1865)]” quote by Thomas Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/248/thomas-guthrie-20408_christianity_a-nd-you-may-know-how-little-god-thinks_1366438.jpg)
