--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was also something false about the…" description: "\"“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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/ken-follett-941_solemn_there-was-also-something-false-about-the_640482.jpg" --- # There was also something false about the atmosphere here… ![“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.” quote by Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/ken-follett-941_solemn_there-was-also-something-false-about-the_640482.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/ken-follett-941_solemn_there-was-also-something-false-about-the_640482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/ken-follett-941_solemn_there-was-also-something-false-about-the_640482.jpg) > ““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.”” [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atmosphere Solemn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atmosphere-solemn-5142209/) [False Atmosphere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/false-atmosphere-5142210/) [Like Priesthood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-priesthood-1861819/) [Moneylenders Acted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moneylenders-acted-5142211/) [Solemn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solemn/) ## Related quotes > [Goldman in the '80s was like a priesthood, a monastic experience where you worked all the time but were incredibly dedicated to client services,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bannon/goldman-in-the-80s-was-like-a-priesthood-a-monastic-experience-where/) [Steve Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bannon/) > [I never thought that I would treasure doing my job, and I have reached that point. I've gotten to a point where it's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-s-sykes/i-never-thought-that-i-would-treasure-doing-my-job-and-i-have-reached/) [Diane S. Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-s-sykes/) > [Death sanctifies. It's solemn enough to make its own shrine, where it happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-armstrong/death-sanctifies-it-s-solemn-enough-to-make-its-own-shrine-where-it/) [Charlotte Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-armstrong/) > [But we must admit the possibility that continued investigation and experience will bring us ever nearer to that solemn moment, when the first man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-lilienthal/but-we-must-admit-the-possibility-that-continued-investigation-and/) [Otto Lilienthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-lilienthal/) > [This revelation of the secrets of nature, long mercifully withheld from man, should arouse the most solemn reflections in the mind and conscience of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/this-revelation-of-the-secrets-of-nature-long-mercifully-withheld/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Deemest thou laborOnly is earnest?Grave is all beauty,Solemn is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-watson/deemest-thou-laboronly-is-earnest-grave-is-all-beauty-solemn-is-joy/) [William Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-watson/) > [I would only believe in a god who could dance. And when I saw my devil I found him serious, thorough, profound, and solemn:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-would-only-believe-in-a-god-who-could-dance-and-when-i-saw-my-devil/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Anxiety must go. It must be replaced by faith and solemn confidence in the outworking of the divine plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-of-st-germain/anxiety-must-go-it-must-be-replaced-by-faith-and-solemn-confidence-in/) [Count of St. Germain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-of-st-germain/) > [My friends, history, history calls us to this time and to this place. A solemn choice rests with us - where do we go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-friends-history-history-calls-us-to-this-time-and-to-this-place-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Emeth came walking forward into the open strip of grass between the bonfire and the Stable. His eyes were shining, his face was solemn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/emeth-came-walking-forward-into-the-open-strip-of-grass-between-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Yet some natures are too good to be spoiled by praise, and wherever the vein of thought reaches down into the profound, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/yet-some-natures-are-too-good-to-be-spoiled-by-praise-and-wherever/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The Estate of Solemnity By right, it reigns in its places- in long beards Of spanish moss hanging from a live oak On a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pattiann-rogers/the-estate-of-solemnity-by-right-it-reigns-in-its-places-in-long/) [Pattiann Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pattiann-rogers/) > [It was clear to me that the White House's solemn atmosphere would not civilize Trump. But the merciless nepotism with which he conducts politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/it-was-clear-to-me-that-the-white-house-s-solemn-atmosphere-would-not/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [“My solemn exasperation was to her the silence of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/my-solemn-exasperation-was-to-her-the-silence-of-love/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [Too many people confuse being serious with being solemn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/too-many-people-confuse-being-serious-with-being-solemn/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) ## More by Ken Follett > [“A child will always be what he is, she thought, and not what you want him to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/a-child-will-always-be-what-he-is-she-thought-and-not-what-you-want/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“The extra line or two around her eyes only made them more fascinating; the touch of silver in her hair enhanced the blackness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/the-extra-line-or-two-around-her-eyes-only-made-them-more-fascinating/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“You're the one who doesn't understand," Lev said. "In America, I have my own car. There's more food than you can eat, all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/you-re-the-one-who-doesn-t-understand-lev-said-in-america-i-have-my/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“They did not suspect her for a moment. It did not occur to them that a woman could be dangerous. How foolish they were.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/they-did-not-suspect-her-for-a-moment-it-did-not-occur-to-them-that-a/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“Remember our story. You’re going to visit a cousin who has just started to farm in North Carolina. You’re taking gifts.” “Even though we’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/remember-our-story-you-re-going-to-visit-a-cousin-who-has-just/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“What don’t I know?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/what-don-t-i-know/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“And here's my advice to you. If you get the chance of the mad kind of love, grab it with both hands, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/and-here-s-my-advice-to-you-if-you-get-the-chance-of-the-mad-kind-of/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“Two blades clashed, ringing like a bell. Like all small boys, Philip thought his father was invincible; and this was the moment when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/two-blades-clashed-ringing-like-a-bell-like-all-small-boys-philip/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“It had been a morning of vivid images: the man-made streams, the rats in the butchers’ shops, the stacks of new-minted silver pennies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/it-had-been-a-morning-of-vivid-images-the-man-made-streams-the-rats/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“tickets and lifts begged on carts, but Grigori was mesmerized by her face as she talked. Once again Lev listened with rapt attention, making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/tickets-and-lifts-begged-on-carts-but-grigori-was-mesmerized-by-her/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“A man who has no fear can do anything he wants, Feliks thought. He had learned that lesson eleven years ago, in a railway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/a-man-who-has-no-fear-can-do-anything-he-wants-feliks-thought-he-had/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“Alison was relieved: she would have hated to see Mary lose her dignity as well as her life. “Follow me,” said the sheriff. Mary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/alison-was-relieved-she-would-have-hated-to-see-mary-lose-her-dignity/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“Jack was too absorbed in his work to hear the bell. He was mesmerized by the challenge of making soft, round shapes of hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/jack-was-too-absorbed-in-his-work-to-hear-the-bell-he-was-mesmerized/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“might spook Harald and cause him to flee. She had to visit in person. This would be even more risky. Morlunde was a town,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/might-spook-harald-and-cause-him-to-flee-she-had-to-visit-in-person/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“I bambini vennero presto per assistere all'impiccagione.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/i-bambini-vennero-presto-per-assistere-all-impiccagione/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) [Explore all 291 Ken Follett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) ## More Solemn quotes > [Too many people confuse being serious with being solemn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/too-many-people-confuse-being-serious-with-being-solemn/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [“My solemn exasperation was to her the silence of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/my-solemn-exasperation-was-to-her-the-silence-of-love/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [It was clear to me that the White House's solemn atmosphere would not civilize Trump. But the merciless nepotism with which he conducts politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/it-was-clear-to-me-that-the-white-house-s-solemn-atmosphere-would-not/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) > [“The Estate of Solemnity By right, it reigns in its places- in long beards Of spanish moss hanging from a live oak On a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pattiann-rogers/the-estate-of-solemnity-by-right-it-reigns-in-its-places-in-long/) [Pattiann Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pattiann-rogers/) > [Yet some natures are too good to be spoiled by praise, and wherever the vein of thought reaches down into the profound, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/yet-some-natures-are-too-good-to-be-spoiled-by-praise-and-wherever/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Emeth came walking forward into the open strip of grass between the bonfire and the Stable. His eyes were shining, his face was solemn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/emeth-came-walking-forward-into-the-open-strip-of-grass-between-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My friends, history, history calls us to this time and to this place. A solemn choice rests with us - where do we go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-friends-history-history-calls-us-to-this-time-and-to-this-place-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anxiety must go. It must be replaced by faith and solemn confidence in the outworking of the divine plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-of-st-germain/anxiety-must-go-it-must-be-replaced-by-faith-and-solemn-confidence-in/) [Count of St. Germain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-of-st-germain/) > [I would only believe in a god who could dance. And when I saw my devil I found him serious, thorough, profound, and solemn:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-would-only-believe-in-a-god-who-could-dance-and-when-i-saw-my-devil/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Deemest thou laborOnly is earnest?Grave is all beauty,Solemn is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-watson/deemest-thou-laboronly-is-earnest-grave-is-all-beauty-solemn-is-joy/) [William Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-watson/) > [This revelation of the secrets of nature, long mercifully withheld from man, should arouse the most solemn reflections in the mind and conscience of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/this-revelation-of-the-secrets-of-nature-long-mercifully-withheld/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [But we must admit the possibility that continued investigation and experience will bring us ever nearer to that solemn moment, when the first man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-lilienthal/but-we-must-admit-the-possibility-that-continued-investigation-and/) [Otto Lilienthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-lilienthal/) > [Death sanctifies. It's solemn enough to make its own shrine, where it happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-armstrong/death-sanctifies-it-s-solemn-enough-to-make-its-own-shrine-where-it/) [Charlotte Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-armstrong/) > [There must be something solemn, serious, and tender about any attitude which we denominate religious. If glad, it must not grin or snicker; if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/there-must-be-something-solemn-serious-and-tender-about-any-attitude/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [To make a covenant with the Lord to always keep His commandments is a serious obligation, and to renew that covenant by partaking of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-w-hunter/to-make-a-covenant-with-the-lord-to-always-keep-his-commandments-is-a/) [Howard W. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-w-hunter/) [Browse all 425 Solemn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solemn/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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. 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