Success Quote by Amor Towles
““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.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, 2016
Progress often comes at the expense of marginalized communities, especially when powerful nations pursue development without regard for human cost.
In simple terms: Growth can harm vulnerable people.
Key Takeaway
Consider ethical impacts of development.
Themes
social justice
development
inequality
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
ethical
When to use this quote
- urban renewal
- infrastructure projects
- policy making
- community advocacy
Key Concepts
colonialism
urban planning
ethical tradeoffs
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance progress with fairness?
- What responsibilities do developers have to displaced people?
A Different Perspective
The quote ignores benefits that may also arise from development.
![“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)