North america Quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
““To give you an idea of the size of the Earth, I will tell you that before the invention of electricity it was necessary to maintain, over the whole of six continents, a veritable army of 462, 511 lamplighters for the street lamps. Seen from a slight distance that would make a splendid spectacle. the movements of this army would be regulated like those of the ballet in the opera. First would come the turn of the lamplighters of New Zealand and Australia. Having set their lamps alight, these would go off to sleep. Next, the lamplighters of China and Siberia would enter for their steps in the dance, and then they too would be waved back into the wings. After that would come the turn of the lamplighters of Russia and the Indies; then those of Africa and Europe; then those of South America; then those of North America. And never would they make a mistake in the order of their entry upon the stage. It would be magnificent.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on Global Electrification, date unknown
The quote illustrates the massive, coordinated effort required to illuminate the world before electricity, likening lamplighters to a precisely timed ballet across continents.
In simple terms: Before electricity, many workers coordinated worldwide to light streets.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the scale of human coordination in historic tasks.
Themes
history
coordination
technology
globalization
Mood
awe
reflective
Type
historical
educational
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- historical education
- infrastructure development
- public works
- cultural heritage
Key Concepts
logistics
synchronization
infrastructure
Questions to Reflect On
- How would you describe the impact of electricity on global labor patterns?
- What modern systems still require precise global coordination?
A Different Perspective
Modern automation reduces the need for such massive human choreography.
