How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
To build it Burnham had confronted a legion of obstacles, any of which could have—should have—killed it long before Opening Day. (Prologue.8)
How to kill a fair? Let us count the ways: no money, no time, no architects, and no place to put it. There's also frozen soil and building fires. Oh, and a murderer on the loose. So yeah, lots of obstacles in Burnham's way. But through his own steady persistence, he pulls it off.
Quote #2
Nowhere was civic pride a more powerful force than in Chicago, where men spoke of the "Chicago spirit" as if it were a tangible force and prided themselves on the speed with which they had rebuilt the city after the Great Fire of 1871. (1.2.11)
Not only did the city of Chicago restore itself after the Great Fire, but it also transformed itself into the nation's leader in commerce, manufacturing, and architecture. The city literally pulled itself up by the bootstraps because it was determined to surpass its former glory.
Quote #3
The burden of restoring the nation's pride and prominence in the wake of the Paris exposition had fallen upon Chicago. (1.2.70)
Why is the fair a "burden" to Chicago? Does failure to pull it off mean the nation has failed?
Quote #4
Together [Burnham and Root] had defeated gravity and conquered the soft gumbo of Chicago soil, to change forever the character of urban life; now, together, they would build the fair and change history. It could be done, because it had to be done, but the challenge was monstrous. (1.2.72)
Architects take note: the soil in Chicago isn't the easiest to build on. But not even that could scare Burnham and his partner Root. Together, they had mastered this topographical obstacle (say that five times fast) and were determined to do it yet again in the construction of the fair.
Quote #5
As if anyone needed extra pressure, the New York Times warmed: "the failure of the fair or anything short of a positive and pronounced success would be a discredit to the whole country, and not to Chicago alone." (2.3.84)
Is it better to be motivated by fear or success? Well, for the guys working on the fair, it was both. While they wanted to pull off the greatest exposition in history, they were also terrified it could be a complete flop.
Quote #6
The exposition was Chicago's great pride. Thanks mainly to Daniel Burnham the city had proved it could accomplish something marvelous against obstacles that by any measure should have humbled the builders. (3.11.29)
You know how great it feels after a really hard workout or especially difficult assignment? That's how it feels after the fair ends. Though the whole thing was really challenging—and guys like Burnham definitely got a few more grey hairs—it was worth it in the end.
Quote #7
The thing that entranced me about Chicago in the Gilded Age was the city's willingness to take on the impossible in the name of civic honor. (Notes, Erik Larson)
Erik Larson seems pretty impressed by Chicago's persistence. Civic honor isn't something you see too much anymore, according to Larson, but as his book tell us, it can be a pretty powerful reason to persevere when a good challenge comes a-knockin'.