Canal Quote by David McCullough
““One had only to look at the map to see that Panama was the proper place for the canal. The route was already well established, there was a railroad, there were thriving cities at each end. Only at Panama could a sea-level canal be built. It was really no great issue at all. Naturally there were problems. There were always problems. There had been large, formidable problems at Suez, and to many respected authorities they too had seemed insurmountable. But as time passed, as the work moved ahead at Suez, indeed as difficulties increased, men of genius had come forth to meet and conquer those difficulties. The same would happen again. For every challenge there would be a man of genius capable of meeting and conquering it. One must trust to inspiration. As for the money, there was money aplenty in France just waiting for the opening of the subscription books.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Path Between the Seas by David McCullough, 1977
Strategic location and perseverance turn daunting engineering projects into achievable feats despite obstacles.
In simple terms: Location and determination make big projects possible.
Key Takeaway
Leverage natural advantages and persist.
Themes
engineering
perseverance
strategy
Mood
inspirational
reflective
Type
historical
motivational
When to use this quote
- infrastructure planning
- global trade
- large‑scale construction
- policy making
Key Concepts
history
logistics
innovation
Questions to Reflect On
- What natural advantages can you exploit?
- How do you keep momentum when problems arise?
A Different Perspective
Unexpected challenges can still derail even well‑chosen sites.
