"America is a nation with no truly national city, no Paris, no Rome, no London, no city which is at once the social center, the political capital, and the financial hub"
- C. Wright Mills
About this Quote
This quote by C. Wright Mills speaks with the distinct nature of the United States. Unlike lots of other countries, the United States does not have a single city that works as the social, political, and financial hub of the country. Rather, the United States is composed of lots of cities, each with its own unique character and function. This decentralization of power and influence allows for a greater variety of ideas and point of views, and enables a more fair distribution of resources. This quote likewise talks to the concept of the American Dream, which is that anyone can attain success regardless of their background or where they originate from. The lack of a single, unified city allows for this dream to be understood in various places.
"German is more familiar now since I live part of the year in Rome and part in the German part of Switzerland. But it's not difficult to sing in German; it's difficult to feel in German. This takes time. It's a culture"
"A great city, whose image dwells in the memory of man, is the type of some great idea. Rome represents conquest; Faith hovers over the towers of Jerusalem; and Athens embodies the pre-eminent quality of the antique world, Art"