--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A specific new fear—that a whole city…" description: "\"“A specific new fear—that a whole city could just disappear in an instant—permeated the American consciousness in the wake of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. W..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/918/garrett-m-graff-7343_fear_a-specific-new-fear-that-a-whole-city-co_2778951.jpg" --- # A specific new fear—that a whole city could just disappear… ![“A specific new fear—that a whole city could just disappear in an instant—permeated the American consciousness in the wake of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Writer E. B. White captured that new fear in New York: “The city, for the first time in its long history, is destructible. A single flight of a plane…” quote by Garrett M. Graff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/918/garrett-m-graff-7343_fear_a-specific-new-fear-that-a-whole-city-co_2778951.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/918/garrett-m-graff-7343_fear_a-specific-new-fear-that-a-whole-city-co_2778951.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/918/garrett-m-graff-7343_fear_a-specific-new-fear-that-a-whole-city-co_2778951.jpg) > ““A specific new fear—that a whole city could just disappear in an instant—permeated the American consciousness in the wake of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Writer E. B. White captured that new fear in New York: “The city, for the first time in its long history, is destructible. A single flight of a plane no bigger than a wedge of geese can quickly end this island fantasy,” he wrote. “All dwellers in cities must live with the stubborn fact of annihilation.” •”” [Garrett M. Graff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-m-graff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Post‑war fear of sudden city destruction reshaped American consciousness. **In simple terms:** Cities felt vulnerable after atomic bombings. Key Takeaway Recognize and address existential anxieties in urban life. Themes history war urban life Mood historical analytical Type journalistic philosophical When to use this quote - urban planning - mental health - public policy Key Concepts Cold War anxiety existential risk Questions to Reflect On - How does collective fear shape city planning? - What can foster urban resilience? A Different Perspective May focus on fear over resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Hiroshima and nagasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hiroshima-and-nagasaki/) ## Related quotes > [The subtlest change in New York is something people don't speak much about but that is in everyone's mind. 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