Cities Quote by Alexander Woollcott
“Once in pre-war days, when curiously-bonneted women drivers were familiar sights at the taxi-wheels, I cried out to one in my dismay: "Is there no speed limit in this mad city?""Oh, yes, monsieur," she answered sweetly over her shoulder, "but no one has ever succeeded in reaching it.”
About This Quote
Source Short story: The New Yorker, 1930
Women drivers in chaotic cities defy speed limits, highlighting human ambition versus reality.
In simple terms: Speed limits are often unattainable.
Key Takeaway
Accept limits, pursue realistic goals.
Themes
urban life
gender
ambition
Mood
ironic
observational
Type
literary
historical
When to use this quote
- traffic safety
- gender studies
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
speed
city chaos
human desire
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits do we chase?
- How does gender shape urban narratives?
A Different Perspective
Idealism can ignore practical constraints.
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