Here is New York

“By rights New York should have destroyed itself long ago, from panic or fire or rioting or failure of some vital supply line in its circulatory system or from some deep labyrinthine short circuit. Long ago the city should have experienced an insoluble traffic snarl at some impossible bottleneck. It should of perished of hunger when food lines failed for a few days. It should have been wiped out by a plague starting in its slums or carried in by ships' rats. It should have been overwhelmed by the sea that licks at it on every side.”

“The oft-quoted thumbnail sketch of New York is, of course: "It's a wonderful place, but I'd hate to live there."”

“Behind me (eighteen inches again) a young intellectual is trying to persuade a girl to come live with him and be his love. She has her guard up, but he is extremely reasonable, careful not to overplay his hand.”

The city is beautiful. There are several manufactural feats that have been accomplished for a city such as New York to be in existence. These MOEs I selected highlight various points made by White that speak of New York City’s congestion and all that ensues.

New York City, crafted into the most highly sought after area in the world, encompasses enough genius, art, and extravagance for a person to experience for multiple lifetimes. Coming from a life suburbia for example, it’s quite a place to be in. A startling difference would be the experience of stepping outside a door into busy street traffic, rather than a group of neighborhood boys playing football or the mailman doing his rounds. There is a comfort aligned with the solemnness of that environment that is hard to find in New York. Anywhere a person may find themselves will be a niche, the question is just whether or not they can assimilate themselves within said niche.

The city is bittersweet. There is a wonder associated with it, whether you are from a completely different country learning about it in class, or on the west coast wishing to be on Broadway; when you find yourself here, you are walking along the dreams of those come and past that wish to be in your shoes. It’s very daunting. The city is a living, breathing being that is excessively overwhelming that is oh so beautiful.