And even as this old guide-book boasts of the, to us…
““And even as this old guide-book boasts of the, to us, insignificant Liverpool of fifty years ago, the New York guidebooks are now vaunting of the magnitude of a town, whose future inhabitants, multitudinous as the pebbles on the beach, and girdled in with high walls and towers, flanking endless avenues of opulence and taste, will regard all our Broadways and Bowerys as but the paltry nucleus to their Nineveh. From far up the Hudson, beyond Harlem River where the young saplings are now growing, that will overarch their lordly mansions with broad boughs, centuries old; they may send forth explorers to penetrate into the then obscure and smoky alleys of the Fifth Avenue and Fourteenth Street; and going still farther south, may exhume the present Doric Custom-house, and quote it as a proof that their high and mighty metropolis enjoyed a Hellenic antiquity.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Melville contrasts past modest cities with a future megacity, emphasizing relentless urban expansion and cultural ambition.
In simple terms: Cities grow and become grander over time.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the scale of urban change.
Themes
urbanization
progress
ambition
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
historical
urban
When to use this quote
- real estate development
- infrastructure planning
- cultural heritage preservation
Key Concepts
city planning
historical perspective
Questions to Reflect On
- How will historic neighborhoods survive?
- What responsibilities do planners have?
A Different Perspective
Future growth may outpace resources and social cohesion.