Los Angeles is a town where status is all and status is…
““Los Angeles is a town where status is all and status is only given to success. Dukes and millionaires and playboys by the dozen may arrive and be glad-handed for a time, but they are unwise if they choose to live there because the town is, perhaps even creditably, committed to recognising only professional success, and nothing else, to be of lasting value. The burdensome obligation imposed on all its inhabitants is therefore to present themselves as successes, because otherwise they forfeit their right to respect in that environment ... There is no place in that town for the "interesting failure" or for anyone who is not determined on a life that will be shaped in a upward-heading curve.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He critiques Los Angeles as a city that values only conventional success, marginalizing those who pursue alternative paths or creative failures.
In simple terms: LA rewards only professional achievement.
Key Takeaway
Seek value beyond status.
Themes
social hierarchy
city culture
success metrics
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
cultural
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career planning
- urban living
- artistic pursuits
Key Concepts
conformity
identity
creativity
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines lasting value beyond status?
- How can alternative successes be recognized?
A Different Perspective
Ignores other forms of contribution and community.