Detroit Quote by Diego Rivera
““Not long after coming to Detroit, I heard of a museum of machinery in Dearborn which had been set up by Henry Ford but which, at that time, had not acquired its present popularity. The well-to-do people of fashionable Grosse Pointe and the Detroit workers as well ignored Greenfield Village, as this museum area was called. Almost nobody had any use for it, and I found out about it only through hearing people laugh at "old man Ford" for "wasting" millions on his "pile of scrap iron." These gibes excited my curiosity, and I asked my friends how I could arrange a visit and what was the earliest time I might go. "Any time you like," they answered, not troubling to conceal their disdain.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Autobiography of Diego Rivera, 1945
The narrator describes early skepticism toward Ford's museum, highlighting how elite disdain can mask curiosity and eventual discovery.
In simple terms: People dismissed the museum, but curiosity led to a visit.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions and explore despite ridicule.
Themes
curiosity
skepticism
class
culture
Mood
intrigued
reflective
Type
historical
personal narrative
When to use this quote
- museum visit
- historical research
- urban exploration
- cultural tourism
Key Concepts
industrial heritage
public perception
social bias
Questions to Reflect On
- What draws you to places others mock?
- How can ridicule inspire deeper inquiry?
A Different Perspective
Disdain may reflect deeper biases, not factual merit.
![“From seven in the morning until half past one the next morning -- that's quite a record time for a visitor to stay at a museum," [Henry Ford] continued. "It proves that you may be even more interested in mechanics than I am. And you almost have to be a fanatic to compete with me. That's certainly…” quote by Diego Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/522/diego-rivera-19217_diego-rivera_from-seven-in-the-morning-until-half-pas_1620157.jpg)
