The Marvelous Tale of the Brooklyn Bridge’s Construction. McCullough describes the difficulties that Washington Roebling and his father, John A. Roebling, had while working to build this famous building in this fascinating book. Here are Brooklyn Bridge Quotes to read.
The 1973 book, which won two honors, deals with the engineering feats and the inner battles of the visionaries who created the bridge. His story has endured, as evidenced by the 1981 documentary “Brooklyn Bridge,” which features McCullough as the narrator.
Brooklyn Bridge Quotes
Brooklyn Bridge Quotes
“People then were still inclined to form opinions more from experience than information and it was the experience of most Brooklyn people that between their city and the other one, there was no comparison.”
Explanation
This passage from David McCullough’s “The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge” implies that historically, individuals have tended to form their opinions based on personal experiences rather than accurate knowledge.
The quote emphasizes the love and devotion Brooklyn residents have for their city in this particular scenario. According to the author, the residents of Brooklyn held the opinion—based primarily on personal experiences and observations—that their city was superior to that of its neighbor, most likely Manhattan.
The quote captures an era when personal experiences and local pride heavily shaped opinions and perceptions.
Quote 02 : Text Lines
“It so happens that the work which is likely to be our most durable monument, and to convey some knowledge of us to the most remote posterity, is a work of bare utility; not a shrine, not a fortress, not a palace, but a bridge. —MONTGOMERY SCHUYLER IN HARPER’S WEEKLY, MAY 24, 1883”
Explanation
Montgomery Schuyler’s quotation highlights the possibility of a bridge—a structure constructed for practical purposes—becoming an enduring emblem of a community.
Unlike more elaborate and grandiose traditional structures like shrines, castles, or palaces, a straightforward and helpful bridge can make a significant and lasting impression.
The idea behind this practical structure is that it can tell future generations about culture because it is made for everyday usage. In this instance, the remark most likely alludes to the Brooklyn Bridge, which is the topic of David McCullough’s book.
The bridge was an innovative engineering achievement representing advancement and creativity.
Quote 03 : Text Lines
“For some people the experience of crossing by carriage was positively terrifying. “You drive over to Suspension Bridge,” wrote Mark Twain, “and divide your misery between the chances of smashing down two hundred feet into the river below, and the chances of having a railway-train overhead smashing down onto you.
Either possibility is discomforting taken by itself, but, mixed together, they amount in the aggregate to positive unhappiness.”
Explanation
Mark Twain describes the terrifying sensation some people experienced as they crossed the Suspension Bridge in this quotation. He talks about the unease and anxiety that resulted from two primary worries.
First, there was the concern that the carriage may fall from a significant height and crash into the river. Secondly, there was also the worry that a train from the nearby railway may collapse on the carriage.
Twain highlights that while any of these scenarios alone would be disturbing, combined, they produced a cascade of concerns that made the entire event quite distressing.
This account emphasizes people’s difficulties and fears when attempting to cross the Suspension Bridge during that period.
Quote 04 : Text Lines
“But Brooklyn, in fact, was the third-largest city in America and had been for some time. It was a major manufacturing center—for glass, steel, tinware, marble mantels, hats, buggy whips, chemicals, cordage, whiskey, beer, glue.
It was a larger seaport than New York, a larger city than Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco, and growing faster than any of them—faster even than”
Explanation
The significance and magnitude of Brooklyn during the specified period are highlighted in this passage. Though it wasn’t always acknowledged as such, Brooklyn was the third-biggest city in the United States.
As a major center for several industries, it produced glass, steel, tinware, marble mantels, hats, buggy whips, cordage, chemicals, whiskey, beer, and glue.
Brooklyn also boasted a sizable seaport, more significant than New York’s, and it was growing faster than other major cities, including Boston, Chicago, St. Louis, and San Francisco, in terms of population and city size. The section highlights Brooklyn’s notable growth during that period and its significant contributions to the industry.
Quote 05 : Text Lines
“The disaster at Johnstown was one that need never have happened and a powerful reminder that it can be terribly dangerous, even perilous, to assume that because people hold positions of responsibility they are therefore acting responsibly.”
Explanation
This statement discusses the unfortunate incident in Johnstown and highlights how it could have been prevented. It is a potent reminder that it can be risky to assume that those in positions of authority always behave appropriately.
The takeaway is that responsible behavior is only sometimes ensured by a person’s position of power or responsibility. The Johnstown tragedy serves as a reminder of the need for caution and not assuming that those in authority will always act appropriately.
It is a compelling warning about the possible consequences of not exercising duty with the necessary care and caution.
Quote 06 : Text Lines
“was a deep melancholic disillusionment growing out of what John Roebling thought he saw happening to the country since the war. The great dynamic of America, he had always said, was that every man had the opportunity to better himself, to fulfill himself. Now the great dynamic seemed more like common greed.”
Explanation
It was a depressing sense of despair stemming from what John Roebling believed he had witnessed transpire in the nation following the war.
He had always maintained that the fantastic thing about America was that every individual had the chance to grow and find fulfillment in himself. The significant dynamic now seemed more like a case of widespread greed.
Quote 07 : Text Lines
“Later that same spring of 1872, in his own annual report, Roebling would write that most men got over their troubles either by suffering for a long time or “by applying the heroic mode of returning into the caisson at once as soon as pains manifested themselves.”
Explanation
John A. Roebling commented on people’s responses to challenges during the Brooklyn Bridge construction in the spring of 1872 as part of his annual report. He observed that most men dealt with their problems by taking a brave stance or bearing things out for a long time.
Roebling expressly specified a “heroic mode” that entailed heading back to the caisson, a building used in underwater construction, as soon as any indications of discomfort or issues surfaced.
This suggests that the workers’ two significant approaches to overcoming obstacles were to bear them patiently over time or to fearlessly confront them head-on by returning to work in the demanding caisson environment.
Quote 08 : Text Lines
“Among those who were about to stake so very much on him and his bridge, or who already had, there was not one who could honestly say he knew the man.”
Explanation
were placing great trust and financial support in him and his building of the Brooklyn Bridge. Put differently, even with the enormous risks associated with the undertaking, Roebling remained a bit of a mystery or unknown to those who had put their trust and money in him.
This brings to light an intriguing feature of Roebling’s relationship with his supporters. Despite their significant financial commitments to the bridge’s construction, there was a degree of uncertainty or lack of personal knowledge.
Some General Brooklyn Bridge Quotes
1. “Everyone should walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. I did it three days in a row because it was one of the most exhilarating experiences I’ve ever had. The view is breathtaking.”– Seann William Scott
2. “You’ll miss her most when you roam, ’cause you’ll think of her and think of home, the good old Brooklyn Bridge.”– Frank Sinatra
3. “I remember perfectly my first trip to New York, when I was on the bridge between Brooklyn and Manhattan, when I saw the skyscrapers. It was like an incredible dream.”– Diego Della Valle
FAQs
Bridges symbolize connections, not just between places but between people and possibilities.
Brooklyn, a city within a city, pulsating with diversity and energy.
The Brooklyn Bridge is famous for its iconic design, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn while embodying engineering excellence and historical significance
History Of Brooklyn Bridge, Read more
