"And I went to New York and died; for 10 years I walked those pavements. I can't think of New York without feeling uncomfortable and feeling like a failure"

In this poignant quote by Harvey Korman, the sentiment is one of extensive individual battle and reflection. The expression "And I went to New York and died" is metaphorical, capturing the essence of a metaphorical death that he experienced. It's not a physical death but rather a symbolic one, suggesting that a part of him, perhaps his dreams or ambitions, felt extinguished during his time in New York.

Korman's remark, "for 10 years I strolled those pavements", even more stresses his prolonged struggle and the sense of stagnation he experienced. The act of walking the pavements is duplicated and boring, suggesting a life stuck in a loop, without the progress or success he may have at first sought. Walking endlessly through the city shows an internal journey packed with challenges that never appeared to yield the preferred outcome.

His confession, "I can't think of New York without feeling unpleasant and feeling like a failure", is an effective expression of the emotional scars left by this duration. New York, often hailed as a city of dreams and chances, paradoxically became a place associated with pain and perceived failure for Korman. This stark contrast highlights the often-unseen battles individuals sustain in pursuit of success, especially in a city as challenging as New York.

Harvey Korman, known for his comedic skill and success later in life, exposes through this quote that the roadway to achievement is frequently stuffed with obstacles and minutes of deep self-doubt. It shows how individual perceptions of success and failure can be formed considerably by one's environment and experiences therein. In spite of external successes, Korman's internal story about his time in New York was one of defeat and challenging one's restrictions, reminding us that even the most effective people have profound battles with self-perception and past disappointments.