Buildings Quote by Ann-Marie MacDonald
““I love the buildings. They're called skyscrapers. They're the closest thing to an ocean here. But it's an ocean that goes straight up, not flat out. They say that the body of water stretching away to the east of Manhattan is the ocean but it isn't. Not my ocean, anyway. It's weird because back home I just took it for granted, my grey-green sea. Now I have a granite ocean. It gives me the same happy-sad feeling I need sometimes. When I look straight up at the buildings I can feel alone in a good way. Not in that horrible way of no one knows me.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Collected Stories, 2015
Describes skyscrapers as a vertical ocean, evoking mixed feelings of awe and loneliness.
In simple terms: Skyscrapers feel like an upward ocean.
Key Takeaway
Embrace complex emotions in new environments.
Themes
architecture
urbanism
emotion
identity
loneliness
Mood
reflective
poetic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- relocating
- city living
- creative writing
- mindfulness
Key Concepts
metaphor
place attachment
urban landscape
Questions to Reflect On
- How does environment shape your mood?
- What does “granite ocean” symbolize for you?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize urban alienation.
