"The Roaring Twenties were the period of that Great American Prosperity which was built on shaky foundations"

In this quote, Paul Getty is describing the years of the 1920s in the United States, which is typically described as the "Roaring Twenties" due to the financial prosperity and cultural modifications that occurred throughout this time. Nevertheless, Getty suggests that this prosperity was not as steady as it seemed, as it was developed on "unsteady structures." This could be interpreted as a caution that the financial development and societal modifications of the 1920s were not sustainable and might potentially lead to negative consequences in the future. It likewise highlights the concept that appearances can be deceiving, as the surface-level success of the 1920s may have masked underlying concerns and vulnerabilities. Overall, Getty's quote serves as a cautionary reminder to not be blinded by short-term success and to constantly think about the stability and sustainability of any prosperity.