Delaware Quote by James A. Michener
““From the earliest days of the nation anyone with an intelligence equal to that of sparrows had realized that the peninsula ought logically to be united as one state, but historical accident had decreed that one portion be assigned to Maryland, whose citizens despised the Eastern Shore and considered it a backwater; one portion to the so-called state of Delaware, which never could find any reasonable justification for its existence; and the final portion to Virginia, which allowed its extreme southern fragment of the Eastern Shore to become the most pitiful orphan in America.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Chesapeake, 1978
The quote critiques the arbitrary division of the Eastern Shore among three states, highlighting historical quirks and regional neglect.
In simple terms: The Eastern Shore is split oddly among states.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how borders affect identity.
Themes
history
politics
regionalism
Mood
analytical
reflective
Type
historical
critical
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- regional planning
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
state formation
geography
identity
colonial legacy
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do such borders persist?
- How can regions overcome neglect?
A Different Perspective
Historical divisions may oversimplify complex realities.
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