---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I might refer at once, if necessary, to a…"
description: "\"I might refer at once, if necessary, to a hundred well authenticated instances. One of very remarkable character, and of which the circumstances may be..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/edgar-allan-poe-315_baltimore_i-might-refer-at-once-if-necessary-to-a_2047181.jpg"
---

#  I might refer at once, if necessary, to a hundred well…

![“I might refer at once, if necessary, to a hundred well authenticated instances. One of very remarkable character, and of which the circumstances may be fresh in the memory of some of my readers, occurred, not very long ago, in the neighboring city of Baltimore, where it occasioned a painful…” quote by Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/edgar-allan-poe-315_baltimore_i-might-refer-at-once-if-necessary-to-a_2047181.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/edgar-allan-poe-315_baltimore_i-might-refer-at-once-if-necessary-to-a_2047181.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ae/edgar-allan-poe-315_baltimore_i-might-refer-at-once-if-necessary-to-a_2047181.jpg)

> “I might refer at once, if necessary, to a hundred well authenticated instances. One of very remarkable character, and of which the circumstances may be fresh in the memory of some of my readers, occurred, not very long ago, in the neighboring city of Baltimore, where it occasioned a painful, intense, and widely extended excitement.”

[Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The narrator cites many documented cases, highlighting a recent dramatic incident in Baltimore that sparked widespread excitement among observers.

**In simple terms:** He references many examples, especially a recent Baltimore event that caused great excitement.

Key Takeaway

Consider how specific examples can illustrate broader points.

Themes

evidence anecdote historical context

Mood

intrigued analytical

Type

explanatory historical

When to use this quote

- legal analysis
- journalistic reporting
- public speaking
- historical research

Key Concepts

narrative psychology social reaction

Questions to Reflect On

- How does the Baltimore incident illustrate the larger argument?
- What other examples could strengthen the claim?

A Different Perspective

The anecdote may not represent typical cases and could bias conclusions.

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[Baltimore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baltimore/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Excitement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excitement/) [Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/)

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## More by Edgar Allan Poe

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