--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: it has been observed that Londoners…" description: "\"“it has been observed that Londoners became more extravagant in the presence of Charles Dickens, so that they might appear more Dickensian, so”\" — Pete..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/peter-ackroyd-2223_charles-dickens_it-has-been-observed-that-londoners-beca_1430453.jpg" --- # it has been observed that Londoners became more… ![“it has been observed that Londoners became more extravagant in the presence of Charles Dickens, so that they might appear more Dickensian, so” quote by Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/peter-ackroyd-2223_charles-dickens_it-has-been-observed-that-londoners-beca_1430453.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/peter-ackroyd-2223_charles-dickens_it-has-been-observed-that-londoners-beca_1430453.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/peter-ackroyd-2223_charles-dickens_it-has-been-observed-that-londoners-beca_1430453.jpg) > ““it has been observed that Londoners became more extravagant in the presence of Charles Dickens, so that they might appear more Dickensian, so”” [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People sometimes adopt exaggerated behaviors to emulate cultural icons, suggesting identity can be shaped by literary influence. **In simple terms:** People mimic famous figures, altering their behavior. Key Takeaway Recognize the influence of cultural icons on self‑presentation. Themes identity cultural influence behavior imitation literature Mood thoughtful observational analytical Type cultural literary When to use this quote - fashion choices - social media personas - public speaking - creative writing Key Concepts social conformity self‑presentation cultural capital Questions to Reflect On - Why do we feel compelled to emulate iconic figures? - Can imitation be a genuine form of self‑expression? A Different Perspective The observation may overgeneralize and ignore individual agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appear Dickensian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appear-dickensian-5091845/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charles-dickens/) [Dickens Appear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dickens-appear-5091846/) [Dickensian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dickensian-544334/) [Extravagant Presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extravagant-presence-5091847/) [Londoners Extravagant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/londoners-extravagant-5091844/) ## Related quotes > [Familial love can find an echo in our own hearts just as it did in that of Charles Dickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/familial-love-can-find-an-echo-in-our-own-hearts-just-as-it-did-in/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [“We are ghosts of the people we used to be. -Dickensian, TV Series (2015– ), s01e17”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-phelps/we-are-ghosts-of-the-people-we-used-to-be-dickensian-tv-series-2015/) [Sarah Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-phelps/) > [What can I say? I deal with it. I think I have come to terms with my absolutely hateful and vile childhood. No, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-griffiths/what-can-i-say-i-deal-with-it-i-think-i-have-come-to-terms-with-my/) [Richard Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-griffiths/) > [I had a kind of Dickensian childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-cassidy/i-had-a-kind-of-dickensian-childhood/) [Shaun Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-cassidy/) > [I've always felt that Donald Trump was a Dickensian character because he is so ridiculous. With his hair and his arrogance, he is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-margolyes/i-ve-always-felt-that-donald-trump-was-a-dickensian-character-because/) [Miriam Margolyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-margolyes/) > [My neighborhood in South London was very Dickensian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/my-neighborhood-in-south-london-was-very-dickensian/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [I had this almost Dickensian look. I was quite fragile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/i-had-this-almost-dickensian-look-i-was-quite-fragile/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [I was terribly upset not to be in 'Dickensian,' so I pretend to look down on it. The part I should have played, Mrs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-margolyes/i-was-terribly-upset-not-to-be-in-dickensian-so-i-pretend-to-look/) [Miriam Margolyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-margolyes/) > [“It's odd how much our perception of cities owes to stories and films.We talk about 'Dickensian' London as if it had some real existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-lane/it-s-odd-how-much-our-perception-of-cities-owes-to-stories-and-films/) [Joel Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-lane/) > [I'm timeless, I got that Dickensian, London street-urchin look in high school. I'll never be in style, but I'll always be different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/i-m-timeless-i-got-that-dickensian-london-street-urchin-look-in-high/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [It was my angry, Dickensian novel, I suppose. It was cathartic - I expended a lot of frustration on that one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-helms/it-was-my-angry-dickensian-novel-i-suppose-it-was-cathartic-i/) [Richard Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-helms/) > [“Mr. Charles Dickens was serializing his novel Oliver Twist; Mr. Draper had just taken the first photograph of the moon, freezing her pale face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/mr-charles-dickens-was-serializing-his-novel-oliver-twist-mr-draper/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [On the day long after childhood when I suddenly heard of his death, the sky grew dark above my head. I was walking on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-elizabeth-sangster/on-the-day-long-after-childhood-when-i-suddenly-heard-of-his-death/) [Margaret Elizabeth Sangster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-elizabeth-sangster/) > [“Dickens's humanity and compassion made an extraordinary impact on Victorian England through his writings, which remain immensely popular. This bicentenary should help renew our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dickens-s-humanity-and-compassion-made-an-extraordinary-impact-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“(On Charles Dickens) It has been the peculiarity and the marvel of this man’s power, that he has invested his puppets with a charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/on-charles-dickens-it-has-been-the-peculiarity-and-the-marvel-of-this/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) ## More by Peter Ackroyd > [If I did only one thing at a time I'd think I was wasting my time. If, for example, I only wrote novels I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/if-i-did-only-one-thing-at-a-time-i-d-think-i-was-wasting-my-time-if/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [I believe that the gods themselves are frightened of the world which they have fashioned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/i-believe-that-the-gods-themselves-are-frightened-of-the-world-which/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [“A woman is a deep Ditch, said he, her House inclines to Death and her Paths unto the Devil”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/a-woman-is-a-deep-ditch-said-he-her-house-inclines-to-death-and-her/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [I don't know if I have a voice of my own. I don't see me being an important person with something to say. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/i-don-t-know-if-i-have-a-voice-of-my-own-i-don-t-see-me-being-an/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [The ordinary routines of life are never chronicled by the historian, but they make up almost the whole of experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/the-ordinary-routines-of-life-are-never-chronicled-by-the-historian/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [“I believe now that there can be no real sense of loss or seperation without the recognition of death; we were too young to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/i-believe-now-that-there-can-be-no-real-sense-of-loss-or-seperation/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [I don't find myself interesting as a person and the details I find boring, quite frankly. You could sum it up in a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/i-don-t-find-myself-interesting-as-a-person-and-the-details-i-find/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [Rioting has always been a London tradition. It has been since the early Middle Ages. There's hardly a spate of years that goes by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/rioting-has-always-been-a-london-tradition-it-has-been-since-the/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [“absinthe removes the bitter taste of failure and grants me strange visions which are charming principally because they cannot be written down. Only in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/absinthe-removes-the-bitter-taste-of-failure-and-grants-me-strange/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [“Those in their snug Bed-chambers may call the Fears of Night meer Bugbears, but their Minds have not pierced into the Horror of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/those-in-their-snug-bed-chambers-may-call-the-fears-of-night-meer/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [In so far as I have any beliefs, I suppose I'm like that old Peggy Lee song, 'Is That All There Is?' I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/in-so-far-as-i-have-any-beliefs-i-suppose-i-m-like-that-old-peggy-lee/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [“dyer. (Looking at him scornfully) So that is why Wits swarm like Egypt's Frogs. If I were a Writer now, I would wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/dyer-looking-at-him-scornfully-so-that-is-why-wits-swarm-like-egypt-s/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [The embrace of present and past time, in which English antiquarianism becomes a form of alchemy, engenders a strange timelessness. It is as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/the-embrace-of-present-and-past-time-in-which-english-antiquarianism/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [In London, I've always lived within 10 miles of where I was born. You see, there is something called a spirit of place, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/in-london-i-ve-always-lived-within-10-miles-of-where-i-was-born-you/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) > [There is no humiliation worse than the consciousness of a wasted life. It stains the spirit, forestalls hope, and destroys any motive for action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/there-is-no-humiliation-worse-than-the-consciousness-of-a-wasted-life/) [Peter Ackroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) [Explore all 178 Peter Ackroyd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/) ## More Charles Dickens quotes > [“(On Charles Dickens) It has been the peculiarity and the marvel of this man’s power, that he has invested his puppets with a charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/on-charles-dickens-it-has-been-the-peculiarity-and-the-marvel-of-this/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [“Dickens's humanity and compassion made an extraordinary impact on Victorian England through his writings, which remain immensely popular. This bicentenary should help renew our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dickens-s-humanity-and-compassion-made-an-extraordinary-impact-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [On the day long after childhood when I suddenly heard of his death, the sky grew dark above my head. I was walking on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-elizabeth-sangster/on-the-day-long-after-childhood-when-i-suddenly-heard-of-his-death/) [Margaret Elizabeth Sangster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-elizabeth-sangster/) > [“Mr. Charles Dickens was serializing his novel Oliver Twist; Mr. Draper had just taken the first photograph of the moon, freezing her pale face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/mr-charles-dickens-was-serializing-his-novel-oliver-twist-mr-draper/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Every book was a revelation to their suggestible young minds. They both sulked through their work-study jobs after Marx told them they were “estranged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-cooperman/every-book-was-a-revelation-to-their-suggestible-young-minds-they/) [Kathy Cooperman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-cooperman/) > [If you look at Charles Dickens's time, there were so many different levels of society and everybody understood their place in it, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/if-you-look-at-charles-dickens-s-time-there-were-so-many-different/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [My father read Charles Dickens to us as children, and at the end of virtually every novel he would choke up and start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/my-father-read-charles-dickens-to-us-as-children-and-at-the-end-of/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [“Anger is a powerful force. It has started and ended wars, won the vote for marginalized groups like women and people of color, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lila-monroe/anger-is-a-powerful-force-it-has-started-and-ended-wars-won-the-vote/) [Lila Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lila-monroe/) > [I looked at the world of books and just went, Oh my gosh, if I'm writing novels, I'm on the same shelves as Jane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-looked-at-the-world-of-books-and-just-went-oh-my-gosh-if-i-m/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“I’m not sure I’d have put Charles Dickens next to Isaac Newton except at a dinner party, and then only if Nellie Melba hadn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-e-kinsey/i-m-not-sure-i-d-have-put-charles-dickens-next-to-isaac-newton-except/) [T E Kinsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-e-kinsey/) > [I think Austin is read more now than Charles Dickens, and Dickens was much more popular in his day. She endures because of her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whit-stillman/i-think-austin-is-read-more-now-than-charles-dickens-and-dickens-was/) [Whit Stillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whit-stillman/) > [“In Charles Dickens's books I had to admire the way the meanest enemies spoke to each other, with what seemed to me to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hamilton/in-charles-dickens-s-books-i-had-to-admire-the-way-the-meanest/) [Jane Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hamilton/) > [Stop, look, listen. I spit on your grave, then I grab my Charles Dickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notorious-b-i-g/stop-look-listen-i-spit-on-your-grave-then-i-grab-my-charles-dickens/) [The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notorious-b-i-g/) > [“•"Dignity, and even holiness too, sometimes, are more questions of coat and waistcoat than some people imagine." -Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, Ch. 37”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/dignity-and-even-holiness-too-sometimes-are-more-questions-of-coat/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The sudden and uncalled for coldness with which you treated me just before I left last night, both surprised and deeply hurt me -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-sudden-and-uncalled-for-coldness-with-which-you-treated-me-just/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) [Browse all 118 Charles Dickens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charles-dickens/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“it has been observed that Londoners became more extravagant in the presence of Charles Dickens, so that they might appear more Dickensian, so”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Ackroyd" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/it-has-been-observed-that-londoners-became-more-extravagant-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Charles Dickens" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/it-has-been-observed-that-londoners-became-more-extravagant-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/peter-ackroyd-2223_charles-dickens_it-has-been-observed-that-londoners-beca_1430453.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/peter-ackroyd-2223_charles-dickens_it-has-been-observed-that-londoners-beca_1430453.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/peter-ackroyd-2223_charles-dickens_it-has-been-observed-that-londoners-beca_1430453.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“it has been observed that Londoners became more extravagant in the presence of Charles Dickens, so that they…” — Peter Ackroyd", "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": "Peter Ackroyd", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ackroyd/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“it has been observed that Londoners...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/it-has-been-observed-that-londoners-became-more-extravagant-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ackroyd/it-has-been-observed-that-londoners-became-more-extravagant-in-the/#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 } } ] } ```