--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He had not been in El Paso for years, and…" description: "\"“He had not been in El Paso for years, and they had developed it considerably since then, he'd heard, along the lines of sin and salvation. They had ch..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/glendon-swarthout-45751_el-paso_he-had-not-been-in-el-paso-for-years-and_2984214.jpg" --- # He had not been in El Paso for years, and they had… ![“He had not been in El Paso for years, and they had developed it considerably since then, he'd heard, along the lines of sin and salvation. They had churches and a Republican or two and a smart of banks and a symphony orchestra and five railroads and a lumberyard and the makings of a library. So…” quote by Glendon Swarthout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/glendon-swarthout-45751_el-paso_he-had-not-been-in-el-paso-for-years-and_2984214.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/glendon-swarthout-45751_el-paso_he-had-not-been-in-el-paso-for-years-and_2984214.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f88/glendon-swarthout-45751_el-paso_he-had-not-been-in-el-paso-for-years-and_2984214.jpg) > ““He had not been in El Paso for years, and they had developed it considerably since then, he'd heard, along the lines of sin and salvation. They had churches and a Republican or two and a smart of banks and a symphony orchestra and five railroads and a lumberyard and the makings of a library. So much for sin. On the side of salvation they had ninety-some saloons, just shy of one for every hundred citizens, although municipal goodyism had moved the gambling rooms out back or upstairs.”” [Glendon Swarthout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glendon-swarthout/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage contrasts the town’s moral veneer of institutions with its underlying vices, showing how progress and vice coexist. **In simple terms:** Town appears respectable but hides many sins. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden flaws beneath surface appearances. Themes hypocrisy urban development morality progress culture Mood reflective critical observational Type literary social commentary descriptive When to use this quote - town planning - community assessment - policy making - historical research Key Concepts social stratification public vs private morality urbanization Questions to Reflect On - What signs reveal hidden problems in a community? - How does rapid growth affect moral standards? A Different Perspective The description may romanticize the town, overlooking systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“As James entered the El Paso city limits, he began thinking about lyrics to a song that would describe his journey. “I’m just cruise’n…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-swann/as-james-entered-the-el-paso-city-limits-he-began-thinking-about/) [Joyce Swann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-swann/) > [You know, I know a lot of lifeguards. Both my parents were lifeguards at a lake in El Paso, Texas. I was a lifeguard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-elliott/you-know-i-know-a-lot-of-lifeguards-both-my-parents-were-lifeguards/) [Sam Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-elliott/) > [I've got to thank the city of El Paso for standing behind me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalid/i-ve-got-to-thank-the-city-of-el-paso-for-standing-behind-me/) [Khalid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalid/) > [“I'm a picture of abject fear. If I had my choice between flying to El Paso or getting a colonoscopy, I'd have to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sandford/i-m-a-picture-of-abject-fear-if-i-had-my-choice-between-flying-to-el/) [John Sandford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sandford/) > [Yes, Horus said. I remember this place. It’s El Paso, I told him. Unless you went out for Mexican Food, you’ve never been here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/yes-horus-said-i-remember-this-place-it-s-el-paso-i-told-him-unless/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Those were hard times, but I loved living there. I would walk on the tracks, hopping, skipping. I enjoyed the neighborhood, I enjoyed El…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/those-were-hard-times-but-i-loved-living-there-i-would-walk-on-the/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [“MY PROCESS I got bullied quite a bit as a kid, so I learned how to take a punch and how to put up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-neese/my-process-i-got-bullied-quite-a-bit-as-a-kid-so-i-learned-how-to/) [Zach Neese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-neese/) > [“If it’s coin operated in El Paso, you can bet the Cartel owns it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anson-scott/if-it-s-coin-operated-in-el-paso-you-can-bet-the-cartel-owns-it/) [Anson Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anson-scott/) > [“La verdadera amistad, pensaban, resiste el paso del tiempo, es desinteresada y generosa, no pide nada a cambio, sólo lealtad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/la-verdadera-amistad-pensaban-resiste-el-paso-del-tiempo-es/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [The thing about going back to El Paso, it's overwhelming sometimes. I look at the support that I get and the success that I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalid/the-thing-about-going-back-to-el-paso-it-s-overwhelming-sometimes-i/) [Khalid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalid/) > [If you've ever driven across Texas, you know how different one area of the state can be from another. Take El Paso. It looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-trevino/if-you-ve-ever-driven-across-texas-you-know-how-different-one-area-of/) [Lee Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-trevino/) > [I moved from New York to El Paso in 2015, just before my senior year. I was super nervous. My mom, she's in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalid/i-moved-from-new-york-to-el-paso-in-2015-just-before-my-senior-year-i/) [Khalid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalid/) > [ \[My grandparents\] were from Texas. El Paso. White trash. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/my-grandparents-were-from-texas-el-paso-white-trash/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [It all started in a local park in El Paso called Madeleine Park. At a ditch, a very small ditch, that everybody used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-bixler-zavala/it-all-started-in-a-local-park-in-el-paso-called-madeleine-park-at-a/) [Cedric Bixler-Zavala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-bixler-zavala/) > [I was born in '72, and my dad was county judge of El Paso from '82 to '86. He was just as independent as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beto-o-rourke/i-was-born-in-72-and-my-dad-was-county-judge-of-el-paso-from-82-to-86/) [Beto O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beto-o-rourke/) ## More by Glendon Swarthout > [“TV,” I said, “do you believe in God?” “I believe,” he said, “in Walt Disney.” “You too!” We had clicked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glendon-swarthout/tv-i-said-do-you-believe-in-god-i-believe-he-said-in-walt-disney-you/) [Glendon Swarthout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glendon-swarthout/) > [“He thought: Oh, I have fed on honey-dew. On wine and whiskey and champagne and the tender white meat of women and fine clothes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glendon-swarthout/he-thought-oh-i-have-fed-on-honey-dew-on-wine-and-whiskey-and/) [Glendon Swarthout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glendon-swarthout/) > [“I would bet the most perfect peanut-butter-and-banana sandwich ever assembled that there are more well-adjusted people around today than people who aren’t and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glendon-swarthout/i-would-bet-the-most-perfect-peanut-butter-and-banana-sandwich-ever/) [Glendon Swarthout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glendon-swarthout/) > [“Ask the way to the Ladies Room and you’re “processed.” Freedom of choice, my backside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glendon-swarthout/ask-the-way-to-the-ladies-room-and-you-re-processed-freedom-of-choice/) [Glendon Swarthout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glendon-swarthout/) > [“God! You hear me, God? Maybe I don't believe in you, but you damned well better believe in me! J. B. Books! See this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glendon-swarthout/god-you-hear-me-god-maybe-i-don-t-believe-in-you-but-you-damned-well/) [Glendon Swarthout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glendon-swarthout/) > [“Plus I think it would be good for men to know they have limits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glendon-swarthout/plus-i-think-it-would-be-good-for-men-to-know-they-have-limits/) [Glendon Swarthout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glendon-swarthout/) > [“Like blind boys they found each other, and confirmed each other, and through the FM of the flesh they sent to one another impulses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glendon-swarthout/like-blind-boys-they-found-each-other-and-confirmed-each-other-and/) [Glendon Swarthout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glendon-swarthout/) > [“Everybody has laws he lives by, I expect. I have mine as well." "What laws?" Bond Rogers was dismayed. Yet she waited, evidently as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glendon-swarthout/everybody-has-laws-he-lives-by-i-expect-i-have-mine-as-well-what-laws/) [Glendon Swarthout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glendon-swarthout/) [Explore all 9 Glendon Swarthout quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glendon-swarthout/) ## More El paso quotes > [“As James entered the El Paso city limits, he began thinking about lyrics to a song that would describe his journey. “I’m just cruise’n…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-swann/as-james-entered-the-el-paso-city-limits-he-began-thinking-about/) [Joyce Swann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-swann/) > [It all started in a local park in El Paso called Madeleine Park. At a ditch, a very small ditch, that everybody used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-bixler-zavala/it-all-started-in-a-local-park-in-el-paso-called-madeleine-park-at-a/) [Cedric Bixler-Zavala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-bixler-zavala/) > [ \[My grandparents\] were from Texas. El Paso. White trash. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/my-grandparents-were-from-texas-el-paso-white-trash/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [I moved from New York to El Paso in 2015, just before my senior year. I was super nervous. My mom, she's in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalid/i-moved-from-new-york-to-el-paso-in-2015-just-before-my-senior-year-i/) [Khalid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalid/) > [If you've ever driven across Texas, you know how different one area of the state can be from another. Take El Paso. It looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-trevino/if-you-ve-ever-driven-across-texas-you-know-how-different-one-area-of/) [Lee Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-trevino/) > [The thing about going back to El Paso, it's overwhelming sometimes. I look at the support that I get and the success that I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalid/the-thing-about-going-back-to-el-paso-it-s-overwhelming-sometimes-i/) [Khalid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalid/) > [“La verdadera amistad, pensaban, resiste el paso del tiempo, es desinteresada y generosa, no pide nada a cambio, sólo lealtad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/la-verdadera-amistad-pensaban-resiste-el-paso-del-tiempo-es/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“If it’s coin operated in El Paso, you can bet the Cartel owns it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anson-scott/if-it-s-coin-operated-in-el-paso-you-can-bet-the-cartel-owns-it/) [Anson Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anson-scott/) > [“MY PROCESS I got bullied quite a bit as a kid, so I learned how to take a punch and how to put up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-neese/my-process-i-got-bullied-quite-a-bit-as-a-kid-so-i-learned-how-to/) [Zach Neese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-neese/) > [Those were hard times, but I loved living there. I would walk on the tracks, hopping, skipping. I enjoyed the neighborhood, I enjoyed El…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/those-were-hard-times-but-i-loved-living-there-i-would-walk-on-the/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [Yes, Horus said. I remember this place. It’s El Paso, I told him. Unless you went out for Mexican Food, you’ve never been here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/yes-horus-said-i-remember-this-place-it-s-el-paso-i-told-him-unless/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“I'm a picture of abject fear. If I had my choice between flying to El Paso or getting a colonoscopy, I'd have to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sandford/i-m-a-picture-of-abject-fear-if-i-had-my-choice-between-flying-to-el/) [John Sandford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sandford/) > [I've got to thank the city of El Paso for standing behind me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalid/i-ve-got-to-thank-the-city-of-el-paso-for-standing-behind-me/) [Khalid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalid/) > [You know, I know a lot of lifeguards. Both my parents were lifeguards at a lake in El Paso, Texas. I was a lifeguard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-elliott/you-know-i-know-a-lot-of-lifeguards-both-my-parents-were-lifeguards/) [Sam Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-elliott/) > [I was born in '72, and my dad was county judge of El Paso from '82 to '86. He was just as independent as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beto-o-rourke/i-was-born-in-72-and-my-dad-was-county-judge-of-el-paso-from-82-to-86/) [Beto O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beto-o-rourke/) Browse all 57 El paso quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He had not been in El Paso for years, and they had developed it considerably since then, he'd heard, along the lines of sin and salvation. They had churches and a Republican or two and a smart of banks and a symphony orchestra and five railroads and a lumberyard and the makings of a library. So much for sin. 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