--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went out to Charing Cross to see Major…" description: "\"I went out to Charing Cross to see Major General Harrison hanged, drawn, and quartered; which was done there, he looking as cheerful as any man could i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/samuel-pepys-13758_cheerful_i-went-out-to-charing-cross-to-see-major_862019.jpg" --- # I went out to Charing Cross to see Major General Harrison… ![“I went out to Charing Cross to see Major General Harrison hanged, drawn, and quartered; which was done there, he looking as cheerful as any man could in that condition.” quote by Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/samuel-pepys-13758_cheerful_i-went-out-to-charing-cross-to-see-major_862019.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/samuel-pepys-13758_cheerful_i-went-out-to-charing-cross-to-see-major_862019.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/samuel-pepys-13758_cheerful_i-went-out-to-charing-cross-to-see-major_862019.jpg) > “I went out to Charing Cross to see Major General Harrison hanged, drawn, and quartered; which was done there, he looking as cheerful as any man could in that condition.” [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observing a grim execution with unexpected cheerfulness, highlighting human resilience or denial. **In simple terms:** People can appear upbeat even in terrible situations. Key Takeaway Acknowledge coping mechanisms in distress. Themes resilience denial historical events Mood somber analytical Type historical observational When to use this quote - war zones - public executions - personal trauma Key Concepts psychology history Questions to Reflect On - Why do people smile during tragedy? - What does this reveal about human nature? A Different Perspective Cheerfulness may mask deeper trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cheerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheerful/) ## Related quotes > [The greatness that would make us grave, Is but an empty thing. What more than mirth would mortals have? The cheerful man's a king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bickerstaffe/the-greatness-that-would-make-us-grave-is-but-an-empty-thing-what/) [Isaac Bickerstaffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bickerstaffe/) > [Tis the privilege of Art Thus to play its cheerful part, Man on earth to acclimate And bend the exile to his fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/tis-the-privilege-of-art-thus-to-play-its-cheerful-part-man-on-earth/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“Haven't you heard of being hung, drawn and quartered?" Blue asked, "Is it as painful as conversations with Ronan?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/haven-t-you-heard-of-being-hung-drawn-and-quartered-blue-asked-is-it/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Children ask better questions than adults. "May I have a cookie?" "Why is the sky blue?" and "What does a cow say?" are far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/children-ask-better-questions-than-adults-may-i-have-a-cookie-why-is/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [When I was about 17, I had a row with my mother and left home for six months, renting a flat and working as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-robinson/when-i-was-about-17-i-had-a-row-with-my-mother-and-left-home-for-six/) [Anne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-robinson/) > [ It's sad if people think that's (homemaking) a dull existance, \[but\] you can't just buy an apartment and furnish it and walk away. It's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/it-s-sad-if-people-think-that-s-homemaking-a-dull-existance-but-you/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Well, we can ride together for a while longer. The highway south is farther along this way. I'll be glad of some cheerful company."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/well-we-can-ride-together-for-a-while-longer-the-highway-south-is/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [To my mind, a picture should be something pleasant, cheerful, and pretty, yes pretty! There are too many unpleasant things in life as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-auguste-renoir/to-my-mind-a-picture-should-be-something-pleasant-cheerful-and-pretty/) [Pierre-Auguste Renoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-auguste-renoir/) > [Bright reds - scarlet, pillar-box red, crimson or cherry - are very cheerful and youthful. There is certainly a red for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-dior/bright-reds-scarlet-pillar-box-red-crimson-or-cherry-are-very/) [Christian Dior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-dior/) > [By experience; by a sense of human frailty; by a perception of "the soul of goodness in things evil;" by a cheerful trust in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-robertson/by-experience-by-a-sense-of-human-frailty-by-a-perception-of-the-soul/) [Frederick William Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-robertson/) > [I am still determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-washington/i-am-still-determined-to-be-cheerful-and-happy-in-whatever-situation/) [Martha Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-washington/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The best Maxim I know in this life is, to drink your Coffee when you can, and when you cannot, to be easy without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/the-best-maxim-i-know-in-this-life-is-to-drink-your-coffee-when-you/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [By the time they were pulling into the parking lot of the A&P, the mood was fading, the moment gone. Amy could feel it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/by-the-time-they-were-pulling-into-the-parking-lot-of-the-a-p-the/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [Cheerfulness in most cheerful people is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/cheerfulness-in-most-cheerful-people-is-the-rich-and-satisfying/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) ## More by Samuel Pepys > [Before I went to bed, I sat up till 2 a-clock in my chamber, reading of Mr. Hooke's Microscopical Observations, the most ingenious book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/before-i-went-to-bed-i-sat-up-till-2-a-clock-in-my-chamber-reading-of/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [“Ma járt le a borivás és a színház ellen tett fogadalmam, s úgy határoztam, élek is e szabadságommal, mielőtt újra fogadalmat teszek.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/ma-j-rt-le-a-boriv-s-s-a-sz-nh-z-ellen-tett-fogadalmam-s-gy-hat/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [“A fish kept in a glass of water will live forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/a-fish-kept-in-a-glass-of-water-will-live-forever/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [But Lord! To see the absurd nature of Englishmen that cannot forbear laughing and jeering at everything that looks strange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/but-lord-to-see-the-absurd-nature-of-englishmen-that-cannot-forbear/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [I did this night promise my wife never to go to bed without calling upon God, upon my knees, in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/i-did-this-night-promise-my-wife-never-to-go-to-bed-without-calling/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [“Great talk among people how some of the Fanatiques do say that the end of the world is at hand, and that next Tuesday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/great-talk-among-people-how-some-of-the-fanatiques-do-say-that-the/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [I find my wife hath something in her gizzard, that only waits an opportunity of being provoked to bring up; but I will not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/i-find-my-wife-hath-something-in-her-gizzard-that-only-waits-an/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [He that will not stoop for a pin will never be worth a pound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/he-that-will-not-stoop-for-a-pin-will-never-be-worth-a-pound/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [And it is a wonder what will be the fashion after the plagueisdoneastoperiwigs, fornobody will daretobuy any haire for fear of the infectionthat it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/and-it-is-a-wonder-what-will-be-the-fashion-after-the/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [The truth is, I do indulge myself a little the more in pleasure, knowing that this is the proper age of my life to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/the-truth-is-i-do-indulge-myself-a-little-the-more-in-pleasure/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [However, music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/however-music-and-women-i-cannot-but-give-way-to-whatever-my-business/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [As happy a man as any in the world, for the whole world seems to smile upon me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/as-happy-a-man-as-any-in-the-world-for-the-whole-world-seems-to-smile/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [Strange, to see what delight we married people have to see these poor fools decoyed into our condition, every man and wife gazing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/strange-to-see-what-delight-we-married-people-have-to-see-these-poor/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [But it is pretty to see what money will do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/but-it-is-pretty-to-see-what-money-will-do/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) > [Thanks be to God. Since my leaving the drinking of wine, I do find myself much better, and do mind my business better, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/thanks-be-to-god-since-my-leaving-the-drinking-of-wine-i-do-find/) [Samuel Pepys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) [Explore all 43 Samuel Pepys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/) ## More Cheerful quotes > [Cheerfulness in most cheerful people is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/cheerfulness-in-most-cheerful-people-is-the-rich-and-satisfying/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [By the time they were pulling into the parking lot of the A&P, the mood was fading, the moment gone. Amy could feel it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/by-the-time-they-were-pulling-into-the-parking-lot-of-the-a-p-the/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [The best Maxim I know in this life is, to drink your Coffee when you can, and when you cannot, to be easy without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/the-best-maxim-i-know-in-this-life-is-to-drink-your-coffee-when-you/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I am still determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-washington/i-am-still-determined-to-be-cheerful-and-happy-in-whatever-situation/) [Martha Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-washington/) > [By experience; by a sense of human frailty; by a perception of "the soul of goodness in things evil;" by a cheerful trust in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-robertson/by-experience-by-a-sense-of-human-frailty-by-a-perception-of-the-soul/) [Frederick William Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-robertson/) > [Bright reds - scarlet, pillar-box red, crimson or cherry - are very cheerful and youthful. There is certainly a red for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-dior/bright-reds-scarlet-pillar-box-red-crimson-or-cherry-are-very/) [Christian Dior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-dior/) > [To my mind, a picture should be something pleasant, cheerful, and pretty, yes pretty! There are too many unpleasant things in life as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-auguste-renoir/to-my-mind-a-picture-should-be-something-pleasant-cheerful-and-pretty/) [Pierre-Auguste Renoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-auguste-renoir/) > [Well, we can ride together for a while longer. The highway south is farther along this way. I'll be glad of some cheerful company."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/well-we-can-ride-together-for-a-while-longer-the-highway-south-is/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [ It's sad if people think that's (homemaking) a dull existance, \[but\] you can't just buy an apartment and furnish it and walk away. It's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/it-s-sad-if-people-think-that-s-homemaking-a-dull-existance-but-you/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [When I was about 17, I had a row with my mother and left home for six months, renting a flat and working as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-robinson/when-i-was-about-17-i-had-a-row-with-my-mother-and-left-home-for-six/) [Anne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-robinson/) > [Children ask better questions than adults. "May I have a cookie?" "Why is the sky blue?" and "What does a cow say?" are far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/children-ask-better-questions-than-adults-may-i-have-a-cookie-why-is/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-was-broken-in-body-soul-and-spirit-my-natural-elasticity-was/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Love is a very contradiction of all the elements of our ordinary nature -- it makes the proud man meek -- the cheerful, sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/love-is-a-very-contradiction-of-all-the-elements-of-our-ordinary/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [To bear adversity with meek submission to the will of God; to endure chastisement with all long-suffering and joyfulness; to appear cheerful amid surrounding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-angell-james/to-bear-adversity-with-meek-submission-to-the-will-of-god-to-endure/) [John Angell James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-angell-james/) [Browse all 600 Cheerful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheerful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I went out to Charing Cross to see Major General Harrison hanged, drawn, and quartered; which was done there, he looking as cheerful as any man could in that condition.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Pepys" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/i-went-out-to-charing-cross-to-see-major-general-harrison-hanged/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cheerful" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/i-went-out-to-charing-cross-to-see-major-general-harrison-hanged/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/samuel-pepys-13758_cheerful_i-went-out-to-charing-cross-to-see-major_862019.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/samuel-pepys-13758_cheerful_i-went-out-to-charing-cross-to-see-major_862019.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/126/samuel-pepys-13758_cheerful_i-went-out-to-charing-cross-to-see-major_862019.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I went out to Charing Cross to see Major General Harrison hanged, drawn, and quartered; which was done…” — Samuel Pepys", "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": "Samuel Pepys", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-pepys/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I went out to Charing Cross...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/i-went-out-to-charing-cross-to-see-major-general-harrison-hanged/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-pepys/i-went-out-to-charing-cross-to-see-major-general-harrison-hanged/#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 } } ] } ```