--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Then, abrupt and decisive, the Emerald…" description: "\"“Then, abrupt and decisive, the Emerald City rose before them. A city of insistence, of blanket declaration. It made no sense, clotting up the horizon,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b5/gregory-maguire-547_emerald_then-abrupt-and-decisive-the-emerald-cit_1988815.png" --- # Then, abrupt and decisive, the Emerald City rose before… ![“Then, abrupt and decisive, the Emerald City rose before them. A city of insistence, of blanket declaration. It made no sense, clotting up the horizon, sprouting like a mirage on the characterless plains of central Oz. Glinda hated it from the moment she saw it. Brash upstart of a city.” quote by Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b5/gregory-maguire-547_emerald_then-abrupt-and-decisive-the-emerald-cit_1988815.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b5/gregory-maguire-547_emerald_then-abrupt-and-decisive-the-emerald-cit_1988815.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b5/gregory-maguire-547_emerald_then-abrupt-and-decisive-the-emerald-cit_1988815.png) > ““Then, abrupt and decisive, the Emerald City rose before them. A city of insistence, of blanket declaration. It made no sense, clotting up the horizon, sprouting like a mirage on the characterless plains of central Oz. Glinda hated it from the moment she saw it. Brash upstart of a city.”” [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The sudden emergence of a city represents unchecked ambition and the unsettling nature of artificial constructs. **In simple terms:** Rapid growth can feel artificial. Key Takeaway Beware of hasty, flashy developments. Themes ambition illusion urbanization Mood reflective critical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - city planning - political campaigns - media hype Key Concepts societal pressure identity crisis Questions to Reflect On - What does the city symbolize in your life? - How do you respond to sudden, grandiose changes? A Different Perspective Such creations may lack substance and cause backlash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emerald/) [Emerald city](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emerald-city/) ## Related quotes > [“Emerald City. Not all the people could go to congratulate”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/emerald-city-not-all-the-people-could-go-to-congratulate/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [ \[On New York:\] ... a city rose before me. It was narrow and tall like a gothic temple, surrounded by water, and ... it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-berberova/on-new-york-a-city-rose-before-me-it-was-narrow-and-tall-like-a/) [Nina Berberova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-berberova/) > [Science has discovered much. The engineering is wonderful, epicycles and all. And yet, as we look at this vast, elaborate structure built on layer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walker-evans/science-has-discovered-much-the-engineering-is-wonderful-epicycles/) [Walker Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walker-evans/) > [“Geeks are not the world’s rowdiest people. We’re quiet and introspective, and usually more comfortable communing with our keyboards or a good book than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-korra-ti/geeks-are-not-the-world-s-rowdiest-people-we-re-quiet-and/) Angela Korra'ti > [“I’m Dorothy trying to get to the Emerald City. Only, someone forgot to paint the sidewalks yellow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-lofty/i-m-dorothy-trying-to-get-to-the-emerald-city-only-someone-forgot-to/) [Carrie Lofty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-lofty/) > [My God, it was like the Emerald City, and as you got closer you'd pick up your pace, and you'd give your tickets and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-flaherty/my-god-it-was-like-the-emerald-city-and-as-you-got-closer-you-d-pick/) [Joe Flaherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-flaherty/) > [“The reason most people are bad is because they do not try to be good." L. Frank Baum, The Emerald City of Oz, 1910”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/the-reason-most-people-are-bad-is-because-they-do-not-try-to-be-good/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [I love San Francisco so much. I call it the Emerald City and have been coming here since 1992. I have a few old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-cohen/i-love-san-francisco-so-much-i-call-it-the-emerald-city-and-have-been/) [Andy Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-cohen/) > [ I mean I think people prepared me for like a lot of green screen \[in Oz the Great\]. I didn't have a lot of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-kunis/i-mean-i-think-people-prepared-me-for-like-a-lot-of-green-screen-in/) [Mila Kunis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-kunis/) > [“Lex surfed wicked, like the devil. He wasn’t afraid of anything, seemed like. He grinned at West as the waves came up toward them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/lex-surfed-wicked-like-the-devil-he-wasn-t-afraid-of-anything-seemed/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [“As they passed the rows of houses they saw through the open doors that men were sweeping and dusting and washing dishes, while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/as-they-passed-the-rows-of-houses-they-saw-through-the-open-doors/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [“When shall we start?” asked the Scarecrow. “Are you going?” they asked, in surprise. “Certainly. If it wasn’t for Dorothy I should never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/when-shall-we-start-asked-the-scarecrow-are-you-going-they-asked-in/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [If London is the Emerald City, then Los Angeles is what exists at the other end of the yellow brick road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monika-chiang/if-london-is-the-emerald-city-then-los-angeles-is-what-exists-at-the/) [Monika Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monika-chiang/) > [My people have been wearing green glasses on their eyes for so long that most of them think this really is an Emerald City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/my-people-have-been-wearing-green-glasses-on-their-eyes-for-so-long/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [“I'm glad you have decided to come back and restore order, for doing housework and minding the children is wearing out the strength of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/i-m-glad-you-have-decided-to-come-back-and-restore-order-for-doing/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) ## More by Gregory Maguire > [“By so giving up, of course, it renews itself- that is the secret”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/by-so-giving-up-of-course-it-renews-itself-that-is-the-secret/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“There are two kinds of anger: hot and cold. Boys and girls experience both, but as they grow up the anger separates according to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/there-are-two-kinds-of-anger-hot-and-cold-boys-and-girls-experience/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“Very few things in the world are certain, but morning is one of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/very-few-things-in-the-world-are-certain-but-morning-is-one-of-them/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [No one survives in times of war unless they make war their home. 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She armed herself with two thorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/old-flossie-settle-down-on-the-other-side-of-what-the-dickens-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I shall pray for your soul,' promised Nessarose. I shall wait for your shoes,' Elphie answered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/i-shall-pray-for-your-soul-promised-nessarose-i-shall-wait-for-your/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [My first job was scooping ice cream at Friendly's in Albany, New York. I hated the work, most of my colleagues, and the uniform,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/my-first-job-was-scooping-ice-cream-at-friendly-s-in-albany-new-york/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“At its most elemental, a spell is no more than a recipe for change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/at-its-most-elemental-a-spell-is-no-more-than-a-recipe-for-change/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I write because I admire the act of rationalization, of seeking clarity in one's understanding of the complexities of life, and I'm bad at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/i-write-because-i-admire-the-act-of-rationalization-of-seeking/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“Do good though, will you?" She blinked brightly at the green girl. "If not for your parents or your grandmother, then for me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/do-good-though-will-you-she-blinked-brightly-at-the-green-girl-if-not/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“You always had an eye for the fellow with a decent helping of sausage and hard-boiled eggs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/you-always-had-an-eye-for-the-fellow-with-a-decent-helping-of-sausage/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“You need my help? What for? Bread, cash, a fake identity to help you slip sideways through the cracks? Tell me what you need,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/you-need-my-help-what-for-bread-cash-a-fake-identity-to-help-you-slip/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) [Explore all 470 Gregory Maguire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) ## More Emerald quotes > [“What turns an honest, good-looking guy like you into a theif?" Scott couldn't help but smirk. "I blame chocolate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-knight/what-turns-an-honest-good-looking-guy-like-you-into-a-theif-scott/) [Geoffrey Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-knight/) > [“wish you would.” “Right. When I had the emerald again, I was in a cell. I guess they were afraid the rest of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-e-westlake/wish-you-would-right-when-i-had-the-emerald-again-i-was-in-a-cell-i/) [Donald E. Westlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-e-westlake/) > [“Does God know the number of kisses before we fall in love? Yesterday, I was nobody and I believed myself important. Today, I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/does-god-know-the-number-of-kisses-before-we-fall-in-love-yesterday-i/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [No matter what anyone says or does, my task is to be emerald, my color undiminished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/no-matter-what-anyone-says-or-does-my-task-is-to-be-emerald-my-color/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [The most abundant hue in nature, the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrumas it has throughout history, multifaceted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leatrice-eiseman/the-most-abundant-hue-in-nature-the-human-eye-sees-more-green-than/) [Leatrice Eiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leatrice-eiseman/) > [“full bloom, the pastures turning an impossible emerald green, she”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/full-bloom-the-pastures-turning-an-impossible-emerald-green-she/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [“Flint An emerald is as green as grass, A ruby red as blood; A sapphire shines as blue as heaven; A flint lies in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-rossetti/flint-an-emerald-is-as-green-as-grass-a-ruby-red-as-blood-a-sapphire/) [Christina Rossetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-rossetti/) > [“This Sarah Perez had the most beautiful eyes in the world, those green eyes spangled with gold that you love so much: the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-lorrain/this-sarah-perez-had-the-most-beautiful-eyes-in-the-world-those-green/) [Jean Lorrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-lorrain/) > [“His character is like an emerald—multifaceted and enhanced by inclusions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melika-dannese-lux/his-character-is-like-an-emerald-multifaceted-and-enhanced-by/) [Melika Dannese Lux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melika-dannese-lux/) > [“And it seemed that my flesh crawled with the gentleness of those glaucous things evoked by the verse. It was as if fingertips, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-lorrain/and-it-seemed-that-my-flesh-crawled-with-the-gentleness-of-those/) [Jean Lorrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-lorrain/) > [ “It is to geometry that we owe in some sort the source of this discovery \[of beryllium\]; it is that \[science\] that furnished the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fran-ois-de-fourcroy/it-is-to-geometry-that-we-owe-in-some-sort-the-source-of-this/) Antoine-François De Fourcroy > [“But as he shook her hand and met those striking emerald eyes, he knew before he'd taken his sext breath that she was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/but-as-he-shook-her-hand-and-met-those-striking-emerald-eyes-he-knew/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [While the 2013 color of the year, PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald, served as a symbol of growth, renewal and prosperity, Radiant Orchid reaches across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leatrice-eiseman/while-the-2013-color-of-the-year-pantone-17-5641-emerald-served-as-a/) [Leatrice Eiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leatrice-eiseman/) > [“That was when I saw the first flash of emerald, then another of blue, then yellow, glimpsed out of the corner of my eye.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-gaynor/that-was-when-i-saw-the-first-flash-of-emerald-then-another-of-blue/) [Hazel Gaynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-gaynor/) > [Love is an emerald. Its brilliant light wards off dragons On this treacherous path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/love-is-an-emerald-its-brilliant-light-wards-off-dragons-on-this/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) [Browse all 29 Emerald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emerald/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Then, abrupt and decisive, the Emerald City rose before them. A city of insistence, of blanket declaration. It made no sense, clotting up the horizon, sprouting like a mirage on the characterless plains of central Oz. Glinda hated it from the moment she saw it. 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