Breathing Quote by Willa Cather
“If the street life, not the Whitechapel street life, but that of the common but so-called respectable part of town is in any city more gloomy, more ugly, more grimy, more cruel than in London, I certainly don't care to see it. Sometimes it occurs to one that possibly all the failures of this generation, the world over, have been suddenly swept into London, for the streets are a restless, breathing, malodorous pageant of the seedy of all nations.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The House of the Seven Gables, 1910
She laments the grimy, oppressive atmosphere of London streets, contrasting them with other cities and suggesting a universal urban decay.
In simple terms: She finds London streets dirty and oppressive, worse than elsewhere.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address urban neglect.
Themes
urban decay
social critique
environment
Mood
melancholic
analytical
Type
literary
observational
When to use this quote
- city planning
- public health
- tourism
- housing policy
Key Concepts
sociology
urban studies
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal experience shape perception of places?
- What can improve city environments?
A Different Perspective
Her view may be colored by personal bias, overlooking positive aspects of the city.
![“That's where I got the idea to paint the walls of the gallery with varied colours [at the Whitechapel show]. I tried to figure out how all these Renaissance paintings manage to work together.” quote by Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3e5/nan-goldin-6289_colour_that-s-where-i-got-the-idea-to-paint-the_1646159.jpg)
