Avenues Quote by James T. Farrell
“In New Haven, Conn., when I was growing up, there were two sorts of Irish. There were the "drugstore cowboy" micks, who hung around the Elm Street poolroom over Longley's Lunch. And there were the earnest young Irishmen who fought their way up from the Grand Avenue saloonkeeper backgrounds of their fathers, went through Yale Law School, and have now found high place by the preferment of local politics or in the teaching profession.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Studs Lonigan, 1935
Two Irish immigrant paths: one low‑status, the other upward through education and politics, highlighting social mobility.
In simple terms: Different routes to success.
Key Takeaway
Recognize varied pathways.
Themes
immigration
social mobility
education
Mood
historical
analytical
Type
literary
sociological
When to use this quote
- educational access
- political involvement
- career advancement
Key Concepts
class stratification
American Dream
Questions to Reflect On
- What barriers affect upward mobility?
- How does background shape ambition?
A Different Perspective
Not all paths are equally accessible.
