Alaskans Quote by Edward Hoagland
“We New Yorkers see more death and violence than most soldiers do, grow a thick chitin on our backs, grimace like a rat and learn to do a disappearing act. Long ago we outgrew the need to be blowhards about our masculinity; we leave that to the Alaskans and Texans, who have more time for it.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The New York City Experience” by Edward Hoagland, 1970s
Urban life hardens residents, fostering defensive behavior and a tendency to hide vulnerability.
In simple terms: City life makes people tough and secretive.
Key Takeaway
Embrace openness despite harsh surroundings.
Themes
urban resilience
masculinity
defensiveness
Mood
cynical
reflective
Type
observational
critical
When to use this quote
- city living
- high‑risk jobs
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
psychology
social adaptation
identity
survival
career
stress
personal growth
mental health
public safety
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your environment shape your coping mechanisms?
- Can vulnerability be a strength?
A Different Perspective
Overgeneralizes all New Yorkers; may ignore individual differences.
![“It's always amusing to see how much less the political class knows than the rest of us do. ... it's never occurred to [the likes of Senators Brownback and Obama] that they bear a worse stigma than any AIDS patient, being almost universally regarded as blowhards, crooks, dopes, and fools.” quote by Stephen D. Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fd1/stephen-d-cox-91414_aids_it-s-always-amusing-to-see-how-much-less_62268.jpg)
![“I have long thought that his [Rupert Murdoch's] social philosophy was contained in his cartoon show, The Simpsons: all politicians and public officials are crooks, and the masses are a vast lumpen proletariat of deluded and exploitable blowhards.” quote by Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/427/conrad-black-11016_blowhards_i-have-long-thought-that-his-rupert-murd_1245476.jpg)
![“It's unfortunate when an athlete's talent comes with so little forethought or leadership [...] The Falcons need to start over. If next year's team ends up being young and hungry but fairly average, the last thing you want as a general manager or coach is to have a blowhard cornerback whining about…” quote by Jeff Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/522/jeff-schultz-81563_athlete_it-s-unfortunate-when-an-athlete-s-talen_845429.jpg)
