--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Standing on the pavement was a big fat…" description: "\"“Standing on the pavement was a big fat man whom Dixon recognized as his barber. Dixon felt a deep respect for this man because of his impressive exter..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/kingsley-amis-5258_cricket_standing-on-the-pavement-was-a-big-fat-m_2026943.png" --- # Standing on the pavement was a big fat man whom Dixon… ![“Standing on the pavement was a big fat man whom Dixon recognized as his barber. Dixon felt a deep respect for this man because of his impressive exterior, his rumbling bass voice, and his unsurpassable stock of information about the Royal Family. At that moment two rather pretty girls stopped at a…” quote by Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/kingsley-amis-5258_cricket_standing-on-the-pavement-was-a-big-fat-m_2026943.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/kingsley-amis-5258_cricket_standing-on-the-pavement-was-a-big-fat-m_2026943.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/kingsley-amis-5258_cricket_standing-on-the-pavement-was-a-big-fat-m_2026943.png) > ““Standing on the pavement was a big fat man whom Dixon recognized as his barber. Dixon felt a deep respect for this man because of his impressive exterior, his rumbling bass voice, and his unsurpassable stock of information about the Royal Family. At that moment two rather pretty girls stopped at a pillar-box a few yards away. The barber, his hands clasped behind his back, turned and stared at them. An unmistakable expression of furtive lust came over his face; then, like a courtly shyopwalker, he moved slowly towards the two girls. Welch now accelerated again and Dixon, a good deal shaken hurriedly switched his attention to the other side of the road, where a cricket match was being played and the bowler was just running up to bowl. The batsman, another big fat man, swiped at the ball, missed it, and was violently hit by it in the stomach. Dixon had time to see him double up and the wicket-keeper begin to run forward before a tall hedge hid the scene. Uncertain whether this pair of vignettes was designed to illustrate the swiftness of divine retribution or its tendency to mistake its target, Dixon was quite sure that he felt in some way overwhelmed...”” [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A vivid scene juxtaposes a barber’s lecherous gaze with a sudden, violent accident, prompting reflection on fate’s randomness and misdirected consequences. **In simple terms:** A man’s lust leads to a sudden accident, raising questions about fate. Key Takeaway Observe how actions can have unexpected ripple effects. Themes fate misdirection human behavior violence irony Mood dark ironic reflective Type literary observational philosophical When to use this quote - street observation - personal reflection - literary analysis - social critique Key Concepts Moral ambiguity social observation dark humor Questions to Reflect On - What does the barber’s behavior reveal about desire? - How does the sudden injury alter the scene’s meaning? A Different Perspective The incident may be coincidental rather than divine retribution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cricket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cricket/) [Cricket Match](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cricket-match/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Pretty girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty-girls/) [Royal family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/royal-family/) ## Related quotes > [200 for a batsman is a big landmark, and I have never been somebody who has chased landmarks, but getting a 200 will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-l-rahul/200-for-a-batsman-is-a-big-landmark-and-i-have-never-been-somebody/) [K. L. Rahul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-l-rahul/) > [“What adventure do you wish to go on next?" he asked, his voice low and intimate. 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I since cricket match do long to talk with one of my arms around you, then place both arms round you and share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/i-since-cricket-match-do-long-to-talk-with-one-of-my-arms-around-you/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) ## More by Kingsley Amis > [To refer even in passing to unpublished or struggling authors and their problems is to put oneself at some risk, so I will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/to-refer-even-in-passing-to-unpublished-or-struggling-authors-and/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [Never despise a drink because it is easy to make and/or uses commercial mixes. 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That's what you're leaving out of account. I'm having Christine because it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/i-don-t-allow-people-of-your-sort-to-stand-in-my-way-that-s-what-you/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [If you are using an adverb, you have got the verb wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/if-you-are-using-an-adverb-you-have-got-the-verb-wrong/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [Outside every fat man there is an even fatter man trying to close in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/outside-every-fat-man-there-is-an-even-fatter-man-trying-to-close-in/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [“When the bishop farted we were amused to hear about it. Should the ploughboy find treasure we must be told. 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Even on the most beautiful days in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-crickets-felt-it-was-their-duty-to-warn-everybody-that-summertime/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,044 Cricket quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cricket/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Standing on the pavement was a big fat man whom Dixon recognized as his barber. Dixon felt a deep respect for this man because of his impressive exterior, his rumbling bass voice, and his unsurpassable stock of information about the Royal Family. At that moment two rather pretty girls stopped at a pillar-box a few yards away. The barber, his hands clasped behind his back, turned and stared at them. An unmistakable expression of furtive lust came over his face; then, like a courtly shyopwalker, he moved slowly towards the two girls. Welch now accelerated again and Dixon, a good deal shaken hurriedly switched his attention to the other side of the road, where a cricket match was being played and the bowler was just running up to bowl. The batsman, another big fat man, swiped at the ball, missed it, and was violently hit by it in the stomach. Dixon had time to see him double up and the wicket-keeper begin to run forward before a tall hedge hid the scene. 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