--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think I would have been great in…" description: "\"I don't think I would have been great in the 17th century. I would have enjoyed the frocks, and certainly some of the food would have been appealing, b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/peter-capaldi-2535_17th-century_i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-great-in_3147536.png" --- # I don't think I would have been great in the 17th century… ![“I don't think I would have been great in the 17th century. I would have enjoyed the frocks, and certainly some of the food would have been appealing, but the disease and hygiene would have worried me.” quote by Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/peter-capaldi-2535_17th-century_i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-great-in_3147536.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/peter-capaldi-2535_17th-century_i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-great-in_3147536.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/peter-capaldi-2535_17th-century_i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-great-in_3147536.png) > “I don't think I would have been great in the 17th century. I would have enjoyed the frocks, and certainly some of the food would have been appealing, but the disease and hygiene would have worried me.” [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflects on how modern comforts and health standards shape personal preferences for historical eras. **In simple terms:** Modern life makes past eras less appealing. Key Takeaway Consider how health influences lifestyle choices. Themes history comfort health personal preference Mood nostalgic reflective Type analytical contemplative When to use this quote - travel planning - historical reenactment - museum visits - health research - personal reflection Key Concepts modernity historical context hygiene diet fashion Questions to Reflect On - Would you thrive in a different era with different values? - How do health standards shape our perception of history? A Different Perspective Modern comforts may bias our view of the past, overlooking cultural richness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Hygiene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hygiene/) ## Related quotes > [Recently I was reading somewhere or other an Italian curio-dealer who attempted to sell a 17th century crucifix to J.P. Morgan. Inside it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/recently-i-was-reading-somewhere-or-other-an-italian-curio-dealer-who/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [The technologies for the alternative energy sources exists today. The economics are compelling. The public health is compelling. Why would we maintain a focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy-jr/the-technologies-for-the-alternative-energy-sources-exists-today-the/) [Robert F. Kennedy, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy-jr/) > [The data, however, do indicate that Christians who see Jews through a 17th-century lens, believing that most are thoroughly religious, are thoroughly wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/the-data-however-do-indicate-that-christians-who-see-jews-through-a/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [Order can arise from chaos without anyone or anything directing the process when unstable combinations of atoms perish and others persist. In the 17th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-wilson/order-can-arise-from-chaos-without-anyone-or-anything-directing-the/) [Catherine Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-wilson/) > [Each of us have things and thoughts and descriptions of an amazing universe in our possession that kings in the 17th Century would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kary-mullis/each-of-us-have-things-and-thoughts-and-descriptions-of-an-amazing/) [Kary Mullis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kary-mullis/) > [Technologically I live in the 17th century. I have a very simple cell phone. I say I live through the kindness of strangers, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-apfel/technologically-i-live-in-the-17th-century-i-have-a-very-simple-cell/) [Iris Apfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-apfel/) > [You cannot gauge the intelligence of an American by talking with him; you must work with him. The American polishes and refines his way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/you-cannot-gauge-the-intelligence-of-an-american-by-talking-with-him/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'd share a pic if the digital camera battery wasn't as flat as 17th century Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-haynes/i-d-share-a-pic-if-the-digital-camera-battery-wasn-t-as-flat-as-17th/) [Simon Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-haynes/) > [I would love to do a period piece - in the 18th or 17th century. To me, it would be such an incredible challenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-smart/i-would-love-to-do-a-period-piece-in-the-18th-or-17th-century-to-me/) [Amy Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-smart/) > [Yes, I would agree that America, just like Spain was in the 17th Century, is the main empire of the world and they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/yes-i-would-agree-that-america-just-like-spain-was-in-the-17th/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [I'm from Holland and the history of "Admiral" is something you would read about when you're at school. Nobody knows about these stories and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roel-reine/i-m-from-holland-and-the-history-of-admiral-is-something-you-would/) Roel Reine > [“It combined corrupt simplicity with delicate ferocity, a curious variety of civilization; a tiger with a simper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/it-combined-corrupt-simplicity-with-delicate-ferocity-a-curious/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Perhaps people need to understand some history here. Rene Descartes, in the late 16th, early 17th century, postulated that body, mind, physicality and spirituality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/perhaps-people-need-to-understand-some-history-here-rene-descartes-in/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [With Brexit, and I think the extraordinary strain it's put on our constitution and our representative democracy, I do sometimes feel like I'm in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/with-brexit-and-i-think-the-extraordinary-strain-it-s-put-on-our/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [Religion is a practical discipline and in the 17th century in the West, we turned it onto a head trip. But it's like dancing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/religion-is-a-practical-discipline-and-in-the-17th-century-in-the/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) ## More by Peter Capaldi > [Being asked to play 'The Doctor' is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/being-asked-to-play-the-doctor-is-an-amazing-privilege-like-the/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I never really think of acting and directing as being separate; they are just different expressions of the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-never-really-think-of-acting-and-directing-as-being-separate-they/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I've only lost my temper three times in my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-ve-only-lost-my-temper-three-times-in-my-whole-life/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [Comic-Con is so legendary, so a great thrill to be invited along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/comic-con-is-so-legendary-so-a-great-thrill-to-be-invited-along/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [It'll be sad not to be Doctor Who anymore because that's an incredible thing to wake up in the morning and go, 'Oh, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-ll-be-sad-not-to-be-doctor-who-anymore-because-that-s-an/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [The Americans just have a great sort of wit about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/the-americans-just-have-a-great-sort-of-wit-about-them/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [ I knew Richard E. Grant, and I went to him and said "Would you like to \[play Kafka in the film\]?" and he said… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-knew-richard-e-grant-and-i-went-to-him-and-said-would-you-like-to/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [It was great being brought up in a Glasgow working-class tenement. It wasn't miserable, and it wasn't poverty stricken. It felt very safe, full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-was-great-being-brought-up-in-a-glasgow-working-class-tenement-it/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > ['Atlantic City' is very good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/atlantic-city-is-very-good/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [It's one thing getting the job of Doctor Who, which is wonderful. And then the next thing they say to you is, 'We're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/it-s-one-thing-getting-the-job-of-doctor-who-which-is-wonderful-and/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [One of the very, very exciting things I have found here in L.A. is that no one talks to you about being Scottish. Whereas,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/one-of-the-very-very-exciting-things-i-have-found-here-in-l-a-is-that/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [Everybody loves monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/everybody-loves-monsters/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I think the nice thing about 'Doctor Who' is whether people like it or don't like it, somewhere, someone loves you and will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-think-the-nice-thing-about-doctor-who-is-whether-people-like-it-or/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [Even though I am a lifelong 'Doctor Who' fan, I've not played him since I was nine. I downloaded old scripts and practised those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/even-though-i-am-a-lifelong-doctor-who-fan-i-ve-not-played-him-since/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) > [I'm not an extravagant man. The fact that I can have a coffee out whenever I want still makes me feel grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-m-not-an-extravagant-man-the-fact-that-i-can-have-a-coffee-out/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) [Explore all 162 Peter Capaldi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) ## More 17th century quotes > [Recently I was reading somewhere or other an Italian curio-dealer who attempted to sell a 17th century crucifix to J.P. Morgan. Inside it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/recently-i-was-reading-somewhere-or-other-an-italian-curio-dealer-who/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [With Brexit, and I think the extraordinary strain it's put on our constitution and our representative democracy, I do sometimes feel like I'm in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-morgan/with-brexit-and-i-think-the-extraordinary-strain-it-s-put-on-our/) [Nicky Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-morgan/) > [Perhaps people need to understand some history here. Rene Descartes, in the late 16th, early 17th century, postulated that body, mind, physicality and spirituality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/perhaps-people-need-to-understand-some-history-here-rene-descartes-in/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [“It combined corrupt simplicity with delicate ferocity, a curious variety of civilization; a tiger with a simper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/it-combined-corrupt-simplicity-with-delicate-ferocity-a-curious/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [I'm from Holland and the history of "Admiral" is something you would read about when you're at school. Nobody knows about these stories and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roel-reine/i-m-from-holland-and-the-history-of-admiral-is-something-you-would/) Roel Reine > [Yes, I would agree that America, just like Spain was in the 17th Century, is the main empire of the world and they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/yes-i-would-agree-that-america-just-like-spain-was-in-the-17th/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [I would love to do a period piece - in the 18th or 17th century. To me, it would be such an incredible challenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-smart/i-would-love-to-do-a-period-piece-in-the-18th-or-17th-century-to-me/) [Amy Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-smart/) > [I'd share a pic if the digital camera battery wasn't as flat as 17th century Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-haynes/i-d-share-a-pic-if-the-digital-camera-battery-wasn-t-as-flat-as-17th/) [Simon Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-haynes/) > [You cannot gauge the intelligence of an American by talking with him; you must work with him. The American polishes and refines his way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/you-cannot-gauge-the-intelligence-of-an-american-by-talking-with-him/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Technologically I live in the 17th century. I have a very simple cell phone. I say I live through the kindness of strangers, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-apfel/technologically-i-live-in-the-17th-century-i-have-a-very-simple-cell/) [Iris Apfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-apfel/) > [Each of us have things and thoughts and descriptions of an amazing universe in our possession that kings in the 17th Century would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kary-mullis/each-of-us-have-things-and-thoughts-and-descriptions-of-an-amazing/) [Kary Mullis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kary-mullis/) > [Order can arise from chaos without anyone or anything directing the process when unstable combinations of atoms perish and others persist. In the 17th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-wilson/order-can-arise-from-chaos-without-anyone-or-anything-directing-the/) [Catherine Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-wilson/) > [The data, however, do indicate that Christians who see Jews through a 17th-century lens, believing that most are thoroughly religious, are thoroughly wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/the-data-however-do-indicate-that-christians-who-see-jews-through-a/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [The technologies for the alternative energy sources exists today. The economics are compelling. The public health is compelling. Why would we maintain a focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy-jr/the-technologies-for-the-alternative-energy-sources-exists-today-the/) [Robert F. Kennedy, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy-jr/) > [Religion is a practical discipline and in the 17th century in the West, we turned it onto a head trip. But it's like dancing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/religion-is-a-practical-discipline-and-in-the-17th-century-in-the/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) Browse all 43 17th century quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think I would have been great in the 17th century. I would have enjoyed the frocks, and certainly some of the food would have been appealing, but the disease and hygiene would have worried me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Capaldi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-great-in-the-17th-century-i-would/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "17th century" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-great-in-the-17th-century-i-would/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/peter-capaldi-2535_17th-century_i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-great-in_3147536.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/peter-capaldi-2535_17th-century_i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-great-in_3147536.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/peter-capaldi-2535_17th-century_i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-great-in_3147536.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think I would have been great in the 17th century. I would have enjoyed the frocks, and certainly…” — Peter Capaldi", "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 Capaldi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think I would have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-great-in-the-17th-century-i-would/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-great-in-the-17th-century-i-would/#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 } } ] } ```