--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: New York had saved him, in a very real…" description: "\"“New York had saved him, in a very real way. It had pushed and prodded him with its impatient and sharp fingers, reminding him on a daily basis during ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/775/nora-roberts-128_city_new-york-had-saved-him-in-a-very-real-wa_484514.jpg" --- # New York had saved him, in a very real way. It had pushed… ![“New York had saved him, in a very real way. It had pushed and prodded him with its impatient and sharp fingers, reminding him on a daily basis during that jittery first year that it didn't really give a goddamn whether he sank or swam. He liked its selfishness and its generosity and its propensity…” quote by Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/775/nora-roberts-128_city_new-york-had-saved-him-in-a-very-real-wa_484514.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/775/nora-roberts-128_city_new-york-had-saved-him-in-a-very-real-wa_484514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/775/nora-roberts-128_city_new-york-had-saved-him-in-a-very-real-wa_484514.jpg) > ““New York had saved him, in a very real way. It had pushed and prodded him with its impatient and sharp fingers, reminding him on a daily basis during that jittery first year that it didn't really give a goddamn whether he sank or swam. He liked its selfishness and its generosity and its propensity for flipping the bird to the rest of the world.”” [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The city challenges and indifferent, forcing personal growth through relentless pressure while also offering opportunities and generosity. **In simple terms:** City pushes you hard, yet can help you grow. Key Takeaway Embrace both the harshness and kindness of your environment. Themes growth city resilience generosity challenge Mood determined reflective hopeful Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - career start - moving to a new city - adapting to a demanding job - overcoming adversity Key Concepts urban pressure personal development dual nature of places Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance the city’s harsh lessons with its gifts? - What personal strengths emerge under pressure? A Different Perspective The city’s indifference can also lead to isolation and burnout if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city/) [Liked Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liked-selfishness-4158922/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Nyc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nyc/) [Sank Swam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sank-swam-4158921/) [Saved Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saved-real-4158920/) [Swam Liked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swam-liked-4158919/) [York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york/) [York Saved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york-saved-4158918/) ## Related quotes > [I went to a college in New York called New Paltz. I studied theater there for four years. 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"BabyGirl" Reynolds-Frasier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/qwana-m-babygirl-reynolds-frasier/) ## More by Nora Roberts > [“Why stop now? Seduce me, Brian.I dare you." "I've always found it hard to turn aside a dare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/why-stop-now-seduce-me-brian-i-dare-you-i-ve-always-found-it-hard-to/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Flowers that had bloomed brilliant from spring through autumn blackened under the killing frost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/flowers-that-had-bloomed-brilliant-from-spring-through-autumn/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“He's back in Maine now.She did say he badgered her with questions. 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He couldn't remember the last time this boy, this young man, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/sorry-bad-wing-when-theo-kissed-him-surprise-and-pleasure-flustered/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Because it's hard not to matter, even to someone you dislike.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/because-it-s-hard-not-to-matter-even-to-someone-you-dislike/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“No point in wishing for what you can't have. - Blair What's the point in wishing for what you can and do? - Larken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/no-point-in-wishing-for-what-you-can-t-have-blair-what-s-the-point-in/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Grayson: Fiction is just a lie anyway. Brianna: But it's not - it's a different kind of truth - it would be your truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/grayson-fiction-is-just-a-lie-anyway-brianna-but-it-s-not-it-s-a/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“I was going to make a confession. Then I remembered I don't make them very well. We still need to see the monkeys." "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-was-going-to-make-a-confession-then-i-remembered-i-don-t-make-them/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [I've wanted to be with you when I didn't have the right to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-ve-wanted-to-be-with-you-when-i-didn-t-have-the-right-to/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [You can't write well what you don't read for pleasure. 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