--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're a New Yorker, there are two…" description: "\"If you're a New Yorker, there are two things that are most important: a car and a washer and dryer. Literally everyone else in America has those things..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/michael-bastian-7645_america_if-you-re-a-new-yorker-there-are-two-thi_2984031.png" --- # If you're a New Yorker, there are two things that are most… ![“If you're a New Yorker, there are two things that are most important: a car and a washer and dryer. Literally everyone else in America has those things! It's so weird to them that these are our luxuries. You can eat at Per Se every night, but I don't have a car or washer and dryer!” quote by Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/michael-bastian-7645_america_if-you-re-a-new-yorker-there-are-two-thi_2984031.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/michael-bastian-7645_america_if-you-re-a-new-yorker-there-are-two-thi_2984031.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/michael-bastian-7645_america_if-you-re-a-new-yorker-there-are-two-thi_2984031.png) > “If you're a New Yorker, there are two things that are most important: a car and a washer and dryer. Literally everyone else in America has those things! It's so weird to them that these are our luxuries. You can eat at Per Se every night, but I don't have a car or washer and dryer!” [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He jokes about New Yorkers' essential luxuries and contrasts them with other Americans, emphasizing perceived oddities **In simple terms:** New Yorkers value cars and laundry appliances as luxuries Key Takeaway Appreciate differing lifestyle norms Themes urban life luxury perception Mood humorous observational Type social cultural When to use this quote - city living - appliance ownership - social comparison Key Concepts regional habits consumer culture Questions to Reflect On - What everyday items feel essential to you? - How do regional norms affect your perception of luxury? A Different Perspective Assuming all Americans share the same needs can be misleading ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Dryer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dryer/) [Every night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-night/) [New yorker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-yorker/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) ## Related quotes > [It's nice to have two things now to come into America with, because I know who I am in England, but to come into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-eve/it-s-nice-to-have-two-things-now-to-come-into-america-with-because-i/) [Alice Eve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-eve/) > [The secret point of money and power in America is neither the things that money can buy nor power for power's sake... but absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/the-secret-point-of-money-and-power-in-america-is-neither-the-things-2/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [Becoming Miss America was one of those things. It immediately changed what I thought I was going to do with the rest of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-carlson/becoming-miss-america-was-one-of-those-things-it-immediately-changed/) [Gretchen Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-carlson/) > [In America many things that are interesting are seen as odd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miuccia-prada/in-america-many-things-that-are-interesting-are-seen-as-odd/) [Miuccia Prada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miuccia-prada/) > [The secret point of money and power in America is neither the things that money can buy nor power for power's sake but absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/the-secret-point-of-money-and-power-in-america-is-neither-the-things/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [In America, all things are possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-martinez/in-america-all-things-are-possible/) [Mel Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-martinez/) > [My hair is frizzy and thick. I can't use a blow dryer so I have to air-dry it. It takes about half a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alana-haim/my-hair-is-frizzy-and-thick-i-can-t-use-a-blow-dryer-so-i-have-to-air/) [Alana Haim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alana-haim/) > [“Like socks in a dryer, it had vanished into the ether.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/like-socks-in-a-dryer-it-had-vanished-into-the-ether/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [That warm feeling you get when you put on clothes right out of the dryer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itsme867/that-warm-feeling-you-get-when-you-put-on-clothes-right-out-of-the/) Itsme867 > [“Some people look like they were born on a clothes hanger. Not me. I look more like I was born in a dryer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-turnage/some-people-look-like-they-were-born-on-a-clothes-hanger-not-me-i/) [Sheila Turnage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-turnage/) > [Does anyone really imagine for a moment that my wife gives two stuffs about global warming? She certainly did not appear to be all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-clarkson/does-anyone-really-imagine-for-a-moment-that-my-wife-gives-two-stuffs/) [Jeremy Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-clarkson/) > [“Well, when I was five, I wanted my mother to let me go around and around inside a dryer with the clothes,” Clary said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/well-when-i-was-five-i-wanted-my-mother-to-let-me-go-around-and/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The best way to achieve a great style without a blow-dryer is, after washing your hair, take a towel and flip your head upside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-aronson/the-best-way-to-achieve-a-great-style-without-a-blow-dryer-is-after/) [Carolyn Aronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-aronson/) > [I wish the dryer were running, because man, I could use a good...tumble dry."-Eve Rosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/i-wish-the-dryer-were-running-because-man-i-could-use-a-good-tumble/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [Don't underestimate the value of a great hair dryer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-burke/don-t-underestimate-the-value-of-a-great-hair-dryer/) [Cheryl Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-burke/) ## More by Michael Bastian > [Men and women shop very differently, and where women are open to edgy, conceptual looks, very, very few men are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/men-and-women-shop-very-differently-and-where-women-are-open-to-edgy/) [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) > [You don't want to have a boring runway presentation, but you don't want to show stuff nobody is going to wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/you-don-t-want-to-have-a-boring-runway-presentation-but-you-don-t/) [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) > [Just being out in the world gives me ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/just-being-out-in-the-world-gives-me-ideas/) [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) > [I'm always much more inspired by random people on the street. I live down by NYU and The New School, and I'd almost say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/i-m-always-much-more-inspired-by-random-people-on-the-street-i-live/) [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) > [My goal is to elevate the whole casual end of the guy's wardrobe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/my-goal-is-to-elevate-the-whole-casual-end-of-the-guy-s-wardrobe/) [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) > [The easiest thing is to create something no one has ever seen before. There's a reason no one's ever seen it - because someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/the-easiest-thing-is-to-create-something-no-one-has-ever-seen-before/) [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) > [I'm actually really obsessed with folk art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/i-m-actually-really-obsessed-with-folk-art/) [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) > [I know how to cane chairs - how's that for a useless skill? My mom once took a course and taught me how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/i-know-how-to-cane-chairs-how-s-that-for-a-useless-skill-my-mom-once/) [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) > [One of the weird things about being a designer is guessing what the world will want about a year in advance of when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/one-of-the-weird-things-about-being-a-designer-is-guessing-what-the/) [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) > [Guys look best when they have a healthy disrespect for their clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/guys-look-best-when-they-have-a-healthy-disrespect-for-their-clothes/) [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) > [I'd like to think my brand shares some of those characteristics we like to think of as classically American - a certain straightforwardness, honesty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/i-d-like-to-think-my-brand-shares-some-of-those-characteristics-we/) [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) > [You get to a certain age, and you learn what looks good on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/you-get-to-a-certain-age-and-you-learn-what-looks-good-on-you/) [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) > [I feel like design school might ruin people, particularly if you're a menswear designer, as there's not much focus on business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/i-feel-like-design-school-might-ruin-people-particularly-if-you-re-a/) [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) > [I'm always asking, 'How do you give a guy a new reason to buy a polo?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/i-m-always-asking-how-do-you-give-a-guy-a-new-reason-to-buy-a-polo/) [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) > [I'm a New Yorker, so I don't own a car, but I rent a lot of cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bastian/i-m-a-new-yorker-so-i-don-t-own-a-car-but-i-rent-a-lot-of-cars/) [Michael Bastian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) [Explore all 89 Michael Bastian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bastian/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. 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? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're a New Yorker, there are two things that are most important: a car and a washer and dryer. Literally everyone else in America has those things! It's so weird to them that these are our luxuries. 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