"A man builds a house in England with the expectation of living in it and leaving it to his children; we shed our houses in America as easily as a snail does his shell"

In this quote, Harriet Beecher Stowe is making a contrast between the permanence of a house in England and the impermanence of a house in America. She is suggesting that in England, a man develops a home with the expectation that it will be given to his kids, which it will remain in the family for generations. In contrast, in America, people are much more transient and tend to move around more often. She compares this to a snail, which sheds its shell as it grows and proceeds to a brand-new one. This quote highlights the difference between the two nations in regards to how individuals view their homes and the permanence of their living plans. It also speaks with the concept of the American Dream, which is rooted in the concept of movement and the ability to go far.