--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Pranksters were now out among them…" description: "\"“The Pranksters were now out among them, and it was exhilarating--look at the mothers staring!--and there was going to be holy terror in the land. But ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d71/tom-wolfe-2191_old-guy_the-pranksters-were-now-out-among-them-a_1003560.jpg" --- # The Pranksters were now out among them, and it was… ![“The Pranksters were now out among them, and it was exhilarating--look at the mothers staring!--and there was going to be holy terror in the land. But there would also be people who would look up out of their work-a-daddy lives in some town, some old guy, somebody's stenographer, and see this bus…” quote by Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d71/tom-wolfe-2191_old-guy_the-pranksters-were-now-out-among-them-a_1003560.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d71/tom-wolfe-2191_old-guy_the-pranksters-were-now-out-among-them-a_1003560.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d71/tom-wolfe-2191_old-guy_the-pranksters-were-now-out-among-them-a_1003560.jpg) > ““The Pranksters were now out among them, and it was exhilarating--look at the mothers staring!--and there was going to be holy terror in the land. But there would also be people who would look up out of their work-a-daddy lives in some town, some old guy, somebody's stenographer, and see this bus and register...delight, or just pure open-invitation wonder. Either way, the Intrepid Travelers figured, there was hope for these people. They weren't totally turned off...the citizens were suitably startled, outraged, delighted, nonplused, and would wheel around and start or else try to keep their cool by sidling glances like they weren't going to be impressed by any weird shit--and a few smiled in a frank way as if to say, I am with you--if only I could be with you!”” [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excitement and mixed reactions to a disruptive cultural phenomenon, sparking hope and varied public responses. **In simple terms:** A disruptive event evokes hope, fear, and curiosity. Key Takeaway Embrace the unexpected and its diverse impacts. Themes culture disruption hope reaction Mood hopeful conflicted energetic Type narrative sociological When to use this quote - street performances - viral events - social movements Key Concepts social change media influence public sentiment Questions to Reflect On - What drives people to resist or embrace change? - How does hope coexist with outrage? A Different Perspective Reactions can be superficial, missing deeper meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Intrepid Travelers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intrepid-travelers-2133843/) [Old guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-guy/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Pranksters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pranksters/) [Pranksters Exhilarating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pranksters-exhilarating-2133841/) [Suitably Startled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suitably-startled-2133842/) [Travelers Figured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travelers-figured-2133844/) ## Related quotes > [“The Beats and the Pranksters showed us different ways of opting out of society. They were both the personification of countercultural movements. The Beats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-lord/the-beats-and-the-pranksters-showed-us-different-ways-of-opting-out/) [Sterling Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-lord/) > [When I was 17, I was always hanging out with the older kids, and a lot of times, the kids that graduated would come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristan-wilds/when-i-was-17-i-was-always-hanging-out-with-the-older-kids-and-a-lot/) [Tristan Wilds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristan-wilds/) > [Years ago, I was watching a debate on Fox News, when I thought, 'These guys are basically like pranksters, they bring the people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayvan-novak/years-ago-i-was-watching-a-debate-on-fox-news-when-i-thought-these/) [Kayvan Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayvan-novak/) > [Jackson Rathbone—he is a prankster. Constantly scaring people from behind, stuff like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-welch/jackson-rathbone-he-is-a-prankster-constantly-scaring-people-from/) [Michael Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-welch/) > [This Portland team is nothing more than a band of pranksters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walton/this-portland-team-is-nothing-more-than-a-band-of-pranksters/) [Bill Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walton/) > [Daniel was a wonderful and trustworthy partner. And a fine prankster as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-stowe/daniel-was-a-wonderful-and-trustworthy-partner-and-a-fine-prankster/) [Madeleine Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-stowe/) > [There are going to be times when we can't wait for somebody. Now, you're either on the bus or off the bus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/there-are-going-to-be-times-when-we-can-t-wait-for-somebody-now-you-2/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [There are going to be times when we can't wait for somebody. Now, you're either on the bus or off the bus. If you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/there-are-going-to-be-times-when-we-can-t-wait-for-somebody-now-you/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [I think comedians start off as pranksters or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-dunnigan/i-think-comedians-start-off-as-pranksters-or-something/) [Kyle Dunnigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-dunnigan/) > [Dinosaur fossils were placed in rocks by prankster God just to make human beings think the world is older than it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/dinosaur-fossils-were-placed-in-rocks-by-prankster-god-just-to-make/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [(...) I let go, crying and unable to stop because God was such a dirty crook, contemptible skunk, that's what he was for doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/i-let-go-crying-and-unable-to-stop-because-god-was-such-a-dirty-crook/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [“Thank you," he says. "Thank who?" "I don't know. You?" "No, not me. Jesus ." "Thank you, Jesus?" "Yes, Toph, Jesus died for your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/thank-you-he-says-thank-who-i-don-t-know-you-no-not-me-jesus-thank/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [Hope E.L .James doesn't think I'm being a prankster. I really want to adapt her novels for the screen. Christian Grey is a writer's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-easton-ellis/hope-e-l-james-doesn-t-think-i-m-being-a-prankster-i-really-want-to/) [Bret Easton Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-easton-ellis/) > [I think I am less of a prankster and more of a jokester.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taye-diggs/i-think-i-am-less-of-a-prankster-and-more-of-a-jokester/) [Taye Diggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taye-diggs/) > [“Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were a very notorious couple of cats. As knockabout clowns, quick-change comedians, Tight-rope walkers and acrobats They had an extensive reputation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot-2/mungojerrie-and-rumpleteazer-were-a-very-notorious-couple-of-cats-as/) [T.S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot-2/) ## More by Tom Wolfe > [“Well … things are beginning to stack up a little,” said Gordo. It was the same old sod-hut drawl. He sounded like the airline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/well-things-are-beginning-to-stack-up-a-little-said-gordo-it-was-the/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“Everything in everybody’s life is … significant. And everybody is alert, watching for the meanings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/everything-in-everybody-s-life-is-significant-and-everybody-is-alert/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > ['Back to Blood' really took it out of me. While I was writing it, I just never went out anywhere, except to the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/back-to-blood-really-took-it-out-of-me-while-i-was-writing-it-i-just/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [In the U.S., the term 'general aviation' means its exact opposite, the way 'public school' does in England. An English public school is private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/in-the-u-s-the-term-general-aviation-means-its-exact-opposite-the-way/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [That's mostly what the Internet is, just passing the time. But unfortunately you are dealing with words that can have meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/that-s-mostly-what-the-internet-is-just-passing-the-time-but/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“The dark night of fascism is always descending in the United States and yet lands only in Europe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/the-dark-night-of-fascism-is-always-descending-in-the-united-states/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“Loneliness wasn't just a state of mind, was it? It was tactile. She could feel it. It was a sixth sense, not in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/loneliness-wasn-t-just-a-state-of-mind-was-it-it-was-tactile-she/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [it is either make this thing permanent inside of you or forever just climb draggled up into the conning tower every time for one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/it-is-either-make-this-thing-permanent-inside-of-you-or-forever-just/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I found a great many pieces of punctuation and typography lying around dormant when I came along - and I must say I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-found-a-great-many-pieces-of-punctuation-and-typography-lying/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [“They became desperate for an antidote, such as coziness & color. They tried to bury the obligatory white sofas under Thai-silk throw pillows of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/they-became-desperate-for-an-antidote-such-as-coziness-color-they/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [A cult is a religion with no political power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/a-cult-is-a-religion-with-no-political-power/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I don't think journalists should talk about whom they're voting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-don-t-think-journalists-should-talk-about-whom-they-re-voting-for/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [Even hostile parodies admit from the start that the target has a distinct voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/even-hostile-parodies-admit-from-the-start-that-the-target-has-a/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I had always looked down on sociology as this arriviste discipline. It didn't have the noble history of English and history as a subject.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-had-always-looked-down-on-sociology-as-this-arriviste-discipline-it/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I read somewhere that writers, as they get older, become more and more perfectionist. Which may be because they think more highly of themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/i-read-somewhere-that-writers-as-they-get-older-become-more-and-more/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) [Explore all 177 Tom Wolfe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) ## More Old guy quotes > [“I heard Tash say: Nomi, you’re sad man. Get a grip. Walk away. What have I taught you? And I thought: You taught me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-toews/i-heard-tash-say-nomi-you-re-sad-man-get-a-grip-walk-away-what-have-i/) [Miriam Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-toews/) > [We all experience many freakish and unexpected events - you have to be open to suffering a little. The philosopher Schopenhauer talked about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/we-all-experience-many-freakish-and-unexpected-events-you-have-to-be/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [Yes, e-commerce is a strange situation for an old guy like me. You can buy a TV online, OK, but to buy a dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-azria/yes-e-commerce-is-a-strange-situation-for-an-old-guy-like-me-you-can/) [Max Azria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-azria/) > [It sounds strange to say it, but you can be in a war zone and have a lot of fun. Even though war is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-cockburn/it-sounds-strange-to-say-it-but-you-can-be-in-a-war-zone-and-have-a/) [Bruce Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-cockburn/) > [“I rooted through my pocketbook and did a fast paraphernalia inventory. I was carrying defense spray, which was a big no-no in a crowded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-rooted-through-my-pocketbook-and-did-a-fast-paraphernalia-inventory/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [“New Rule: Democrats must get in touch with their inner asshole. I refer to the case of Van Jones, the man the Obama administration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-democrats-must-get-in-touch-with-their-inner-asshole-i-refer/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [I hope to give you at least 15 more years of movies. I'm not going to be this old guy that keeps cranking them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/i-hope-to-give-you-at-least-15-more-years-of-movies-i-m-not-going-to/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [“When I was eleven or twelve, we had this real old guy as a Sunday school teacher. Mom said he'd been in some war:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mullin/when-i-was-eleven-or-twelve-we-had-this-real-old-guy-as-a-sunday/) [Mike Mullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mullin/) > [I always thought if you run a Marathon in less than 4 hours, there is a tick of athletic accomplishment in that. Anything over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltrip/i-always-thought-if-you-run-a-marathon-in-less-than-4-hours-there-is/) [Michael Waltrip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltrip/) > [“The city overwhelmed me. Every day I’d walk by hundreds of strangers, compete for space in crowded coffee shops, and stand shoulder to shoulder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/the-city-overwhelmed-me-every-day-i-d-walk-by-hundreds-of-strangers/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) > [Right guy, Wrong time. Right time, Wrong guy. New guy, Old lines. Old guy, New lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-h/right-guy-wrong-time-right-time-wrong-guy-new-guy-old-lines-old-guy/) [Miranda H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-h/) > [New guy, old lines. Old guy, new lies. What's the use? Why even try?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/new-guy-old-lines-old-guy-new-lies-what-s-the-use-why-even-try/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't think China should care if this crazy old guy should have a show here or not. You have so many museums in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-don-t-think-china-should-care-if-this-crazy-old-guy-should-have-a/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [My dad once told me that he would rather I had an old boyfriend than a tall boyfriend. I don't know why, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/my-dad-once-told-me-that-he-would-rather-i-had-an-old-boyfriend-than/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [If there is a public perception at all, they see the producer as a big old guy who smokes a cigar and has lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-herskovitz/if-there-is-a-public-perception-at-all-they-see-the-producer-as-a-big/) [Marshall Herskovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-herskovitz/) [Browse all 117 Old guy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-guy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The Pranksters were now out among them, and it was exhilarating--look at the mothers staring!--and there was going to be holy terror in the land. But there would also be people who would look up out of their work-a-daddy lives in some town, some old guy, somebody's stenographer, and see this bus and register...delight, or just pure open-invitation wonder. Either way, the Intrepid Travelers figured, there was hope for these people. They weren't totally turned off...the citizens were suitably startled, outraged, delighted, nonplused, and would wheel around and start or else try to keep their cool by sidling glances like they weren't going to be impressed by any weird shit--and a few smiled in a frank way as if to say, I am with you--if only I could be with you!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Wolfe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/the-pranksters-were-now-out-among-them-and-it-was-exhilarating-look/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Old guy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/the-pranksters-were-now-out-among-them-and-it-was-exhilarating-look/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d71/tom-wolfe-2191_old-guy_the-pranksters-were-now-out-among-them-a_1003560.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d71/tom-wolfe-2191_old-guy_the-pranksters-were-now-out-among-them-a_1003560.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d71/tom-wolfe-2191_old-guy_the-pranksters-were-now-out-among-them-a_1003560.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Pranksters were now out among them, and it was exhilarating--look at the mothers staring!--and there was…” — Tom Wolfe", "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": "Tom Wolfe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The Pranksters were now out among...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/the-pranksters-were-now-out-among-them-and-it-was-exhilarating-look/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/the-pranksters-were-now-out-among-them-and-it-was-exhilarating-look/#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 } } ] } ```