Success Quote by Amor Towles
““At the greatest cost! But do you think the achievements of the Americans—envied the world over—came without a cost? Just ask their African brothers. And do you think the engineers who designed their illustrious skyscrapers or built their highways hesitated for one moment to level the lovely little neighborhoods that stood in their way? I guarantee you, Alexander, they laid the dynamite and pushed the plungers themselves. As I’ve said to you before, we and the Americans will lead the rest of this century because we are the only nations who have learned to brush the past aside instead of””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Unknown political speech, early 21st century
Progress often demands harsh sacrifices, especially when powerful nations reshape landscapes for development.
In simple terms: Great achievements can require painful costs.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the human impact of development.
Themes
development
power
ethics
urbanization
history
Mood
reflective
critical
somber
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- policy making
- historical analysis
- activism
- education
Key Concepts
colonialism
infrastructure
social cost
environmental impact
Questions to Reflect On
- What costs are justified for progress?
- How can we balance development with equity?
A Different Perspective
Not all progress is beneficial; marginalized groups may suffer.
![“Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and the screenplay of Simon (Beaufoy) and I was reading it, even before the shoot, some kind of sounds came into my mind and I put some stuff [down] and sent it to…” quote by A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/a-r-rahman-4481_cutting_since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-o_539.jpg)