--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I knew that the wall was the main thing…" description: "\"I knew that the wall was the main thing in Quebec, and had cost a great deal of money… In fact, these are the only remarkable walls we have in North Am..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9f/henry-david-thoreau-20_america_i-knew-that-the-wall-was-the-main-thing_1655093.jpg" --- # I knew that the wall was the main thing in Quebec, and had… ![“I knew that the wall was the main thing in Quebec, and had cost a great deal of money… In fact, these are the only remarkable walls we have in North America, though we have a good deal of Virginia fence, it is true.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9f/henry-david-thoreau-20_america_i-knew-that-the-wall-was-the-main-thing_1655093.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9f/henry-david-thoreau-20_america_i-knew-that-the-wall-was-the-main-thing_1655093.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9f/henry-david-thoreau-20_america_i-knew-that-the-wall-was-the-main-thing_1655093.jpg) > “I knew that the wall was the main thing in Quebec, and had cost a great deal of money… In fact, these are the only remarkable walls we have in North America, though we have a good deal of Virginia fence, it is true.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The wall in Quebec is a unique, costly structure, contrasting with abundant American fences. **In simple terms:** Quebec wall is unique and expensive compared to US fences. Key Takeaway Recognize distinct cultural landmarks. Themes history architecture culture Mood thoughtful analytical Type historical observational When to use this quote - travel - historical study - urban planning Key Concepts unique structures regional differences Questions to Reflect On - Why invest in such walls? - What does it say about regional identity? A Different Perspective Cost may reflect broader socioeconomic factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [North america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/north-america/) [Quebec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quebec/) [Virginia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virginia/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) ## Related quotes > [Why should Canada, wild and unsettled as it is, impress us as an older country than the States, unless because her institutions are old?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/why-should-canada-wild-and-unsettled-as-it-is-impress-us-as-an-older/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > ['Mars et Avril' is a science fiction film. It's set in Montreal some 50 years in the future. No one had done that kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-villeneuve/mars-et-avril-is-a-science-fiction-film-it-s-set-in-montreal-some-50/) [Martin Villeneuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-villeneuve/) > [My quality of life here in Quebec City is extraordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-roy/my-quality-of-life-here-in-quebec-city-is-extraordinary/) [Patrick Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-roy/) > [In Quebec, we can no longer increase taxes if we want to stay competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/in-quebec-we-can-no-longer-increase-taxes-if-we-want-to-stay/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [My victory is your victory. My victory is the victory of a unified party, a party that wants to propose to the Quebec people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-marois/my-victory-is-your-victory-my-victory-is-the-victory-of-a-unified/) [Pauline Marois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-marois/) > [Quebec does not have Opinions, but only sentiments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfrid-laurier/quebec-does-not-have-opinions-but-only-sentiments/) [Wilfrid Laurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfrid-laurier/) > [Canadians are friends and Quebecers are my family. What France knows deep down is that within this great Canadian people, there is a Quebec…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-sarkozy/canadians-are-friends-and-quebecers-are-my-family-what-france-knows/) [Nicolas Sarkozy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-sarkozy/) > [In the world outside this glass room, songbirds are feeding and resting in the trees. 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But if you're big in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-smith/if-you-re-big-in-montreal-you-re-big-in-quebec-if-you-re-big-in/) [Shane Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-smith/) > [I'd rather be referred to as a precocious young Quebec talent, than not be referred to at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-dolan/i-d-rather-be-referred-to-as-a-precocious-young-quebec-talent-than/) [Xavier Dolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-dolan/) > [Why would it be ridiculous that Quebec has an army?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilles-duceppe/why-would-it-be-ridiculous-that-quebec-has-an-army/) [Gilles Duceppe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilles-duceppe/) > [There is Ontario patriotism, Quebec patriotism, or Western patriotism; each based on the hope that it may swallow up the others, but there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bourassa/there-is-ontario-patriotism-quebec-patriotism-or-western-patriotism/) [Henri Bourassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bourassa/) > [We were always expected to see Quebec's side of things, but there was damned little reciprocity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-lamarsh/we-were-always-expected-to-see-quebec-s-side-of-things-but-there-was/) [Judy LaMarsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-lamarsh/) > [In Quebec City many Muslims have said that they hide their faith because they know that if they don't, if they show that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-pratte/in-quebec-city-many-muslims-have-said-that-they-hide-their-faith/) Andre Pratte > [Progressive Conservative candidates from Quebec want to exert real power in Ottawa, not simply be content with playing a secondary role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-campbell/progressive-conservative-candidates-from-quebec-want-to-exert-real/) [Kim Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-campbell/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. 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And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? 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