Body heat Quote by Don Delillo Underworld
““Longing on a large scale is what makes history. This is just a kid with a local yearning but he is part of an assembling crowd, anonymous thousands off the buses and trains, people in narrow columns tramping over the swing bridge above the river, and even if they are not a migration or a revolution, some vast shaking of the soul, they bring with them the body heat of a great city and their own small reveries and desperations, the unseen something that haunts the day—men in fedoras and sailors on shore leave, the stray tumble of their thoughts, going to a game.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Underworld, 1997
The passage describes how personal longings, when multiplied across many individuals, create a collective historical movement that shapes cities and societies.
In simple terms: Individual yearning becomes a shared, powerful force in history.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the impact of collective desire.
Themes
history
urban life
collective yearning
movement
Mood
reflective
poetic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- city planning
- social activism
- artistic inspiration
- community events
Key Concepts
social dynamics
mass psychology
urbanization
Questions to Reflect On
- How do personal desires shape public spaces?
- What drives mass movements?
A Different Perspective
It may romanticize collective yearning without addressing conflict.
