First in violence, deepest in dirt, lawless, unlovely, ill-smelling, irreverent, new; an overgrown gawk of a - village, the "tough" among cities, a spectacle for the nation.
Interpretation
This quote reflects on the chaotic and often unappealing aspects of a city that embodies toughness amidst societal challenges.
Lincoln Steffens describes a city that starkly represents the struggles and raw realities of urban life. By using vivid imagery and contrasting adjectives, he captures the essence of a place that is marred by violence and neglect yet possesses a unique character that stands out in the national landscape. The description signifies a reality that, despite its flaws, is vibrant and noteworthy, offering insights into the complexities of urban existence.
In practice
In a discussion about urban development, one might quote this to illustrate the gritty reality of some cities.
Whenever anything extraordinary is done in American municipal politics, whether for good or for evil, you can trace it almost invariably to one man. The people do not do it. Neither do the 'gangs,' 'combines,' or political parties.
Most men think graft a sporadic evil, breaking out here and there, with no connection between outbreaks. I shared the same opinion, but very soon I discovered that the graft in the cities always leads to the graft in the State.
Each act is virgin, even the repeated ones.
The monsters of our childhood do not fade away, neither are they ever wholly monstrous.
Is discord going to show itself while we are still fighting, is the Jew once again worth less than another? Oh, it is sad, very sad, that once more, for the umpteenth time, the old truth is confirmed: What one Christian does is his own responsibility, what one Jew does is thrown back at all Jews.
To understand the true quality of people, you must look into their minds, and examine their pursuits and aversions.
I use New York to talk about home, but the ideas in 'Colossus' could be transferred to other cities. The story about Central Park is really about the first day of spring in any park. The Coney Island chapter is really about beaches and summer and heat waves.
Freeman denied the claim that he was a “man of God”, saying that “the question of faith is whatever you actually believe is. We take a lot of what we're talking about in science on faith; we posit a theory, and until it's dis-proven we have faith that it's true. If the mathematics work out, then it's true, until it's proven to be untrue.
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