Automobiles Quote by H. G. Wells
““For many years the price of coal and every form of liquid fuel had been clambering to levels that made even the revival of the draft horse seem a practicable possibility, and now with the abrupt relaxation of this stringency, the change in appearance of the traffic upon the world's roads was instantaneous. in three years the frightful armoured monsters that had hooted and smoked and thundered about the world for four awful decades were swept away to the dealers in old metal, and the highways thronged with light and clean and shimmering shapes of silvered steel.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The World Set Free by H. G. Wells, 1914
The quote reflects how dropping fuel prices would make horse‑drawn transport viable again, and how the sudden easing of restrictions caused a rapid shift from noisy, polluting vehicles to cleaner, lighter ones.
In simple terms: Cheaper fuel could revive old transport; easing rules changed traffic instantly.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how policy and price shifts reshape technology adoption.
Themes
technology
economics
environment
history
transportation
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
observational
historical
commentary
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- energy policy
- automotive industry
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
price elasticity
technological transition
environmental impact
Questions to Reflect On
- What policy changes could today reverse modern vehicle emissions?
- How do price signals affect technological inertia?
A Different Perspective
The transition may overlook long‑term sustainability of new technologies.
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