Gilded Age Quotes

“Leo sighed and went back to her work, but by the time she reached her little apartment on the houseboat moored to Gezira Island she was weary and on edge. She could not get the thought of Alix caught up in a battle out of her head. Sasha’s informant had described how she had been honoured by Tito for her role as a bombasi, hurling grenades into enemy bunkers. It wasn’t hard to imagine how dangerous that would be. She longed to confide in someone, to share her anxiety, but there was no one she could tell without divulging her source. She considered trying to get a phone call through to Sasha in London but dismissed the idea. It was unfair to burden him with the same worry when he was as helpless as she was. Apart from that, she was not sure how he would react. He hated the idea of women anywhere near the front line, as she knew from her own experience. In addition, Alix was fighting on the wrong side as far as he was concerned.”
― Holly Green, A Call to Home

“From then on, my sense of smell swelled beyond reason. Mostly ordinary odors, but sometimes I imagine I can smell the stink of a lie. Or the perfume of a pure heart. Or the heartbreaking smell of what could have been.”
― Rebecca Rosenberg, Champagne Widows: First Woman of Champagne, Veuve Clicquot

“Wars are senseless and cruel, fought for our power hungry emperor, not for the people.”
― Rebecca Rosenberg, Champagne Widows: First Woman of Champagne, Veuve Clicquot

“Heard straight from Napoleon’s mouth himself,” I say. “Champagne! In victory we deserve it, and in defeat we need it.”
― Rebecca Rosenberg, Champagne Widows: First Woman of Champagne, Veuve Clicquot

“America's industrial success produced a roll call of financial magnificence: Rockefellers, Morgans, Astors, Mellons, Fricks, Carnegies, Goulds, du Ponts, Belmonts, Harrimans, Huntingtons, Vanderbilts, and many more based in dynastic wealth of essentially inexhaustible proportions. John D. Rockefeller made $1 billion a year, measured in today's money, and paid no income tax. No one did, for income tax did not yet exist in America. Congress tried to introduce an income tax of 2 percent on earnings of $4,000 in 1894, but the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional. Income tax wouldn't become a regular part of American Life until 1914. People would never be this rich again.
Spending all this wealth became for many a more or less full-time occupation. A kind of desperate, vulgar edge became attached to almost everything they did. At one New York dinner party, guests found the table heaped with sand and at each place a little gold spade; upon a signal, they were invited to dig in and search for diamonds and other costly glitter buried within. At another party - possibly the most preposterous ever staged - several dozen horses with padded hooves were led into the ballroom of Sherry's, a vast and esteemed eating establishment, and tethered around the tables so that the guests, dressed as cowboys and cowgirls, could enjoy the novel and sublimely pointless pleasure of dining in a New York ballroom on horseback.”
― Bill Bryson, At Home: A Short History of Private Life

“This was, after all, New Orleans in 1890- the Crescent City of the Gilded Age, where aliases of convenience and unconventional living arrangements were anything but out of the ordinary, at least in certain parts of town. Identities were fluid here, and names and appearances weren't always the best guide to telling who was who.”
― Gary Krist, Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans

“Meanwhile, men like Huxley, Carnegie and Frick were the very select few who were reaping in the gargantuan rewards of gold, or in this case, coal and steel.”
― Rich DiSilvio, A Blazing Gilded Age

“But these men at the top have great power, Marc, power that extends beyond the world of commerce, for they are now buying our heads of state and manipulating policy.”
― Rich DiSilvio, A Blazing Gilded Age

“This summer can be the adventure of a lifetime, if you let it.”—Katelyn’s Choice by Susan G Mathis”
― Susan G. Mathis, Katelyn's Choice

“Soon she would live on one of those magnificent Thousand Islands for the entire summer.” —Katelyn’s Choice by Susan G Mathis”
― Susan G. Mathis, Katelyn's Choice

“She would be free like the gulls that sailed the summer breeze.”—Katelyn’s Choice by Susan G Mathis”
― Susan G. Mathis, Katelyn's Choice

“A whole new world is waiting for us across this river.”—Katelyn’s Choice by Susan G Mathis”
― Susan G. Mathis, Katelyn's Choice

“It was Katelyn’s first time in a skiff, her first time on the river, her first time going to an island. It was the first of many firsts, and her excitement grew with each minute that passed.”—Katelyn’s Choice by Susan G Mathis”
― Susan G. Mathis, Katelyn's Choice

“A whole summer on this beautiful Pullman Island! What magic might transpire?”—Katelyn’s Choice by Susan G Mathis”
― Susan G. Mathis, Katelyn's Choice

“Let me welcome you to Pullman Island, home of the famous George M. Pullman of the Pullman railroad car fame!”—Katelyn’s Choice by Susan G Mathis”
― Susan G. Mathis, Katelyn's Choice

“A hand moved gracefully over the canvas, releasing the first colorful dot onto a sea of white. Her mind traveled to a different realm, and she joined in spirit with every human being whomever dared to take that first stroke, and she
knew the risks; she was willing to pay the price, because wasn’t that what the heart longed for? Whether it be by writing, painting, or music—one only needs to find the strength of courage to walk along the creative path, to search for one’s higher self, and maybe, for just a moment, to gaze into the eyes of God."

― AnneMarie Dapp, Autumn Lady”
― AnneMarie Dapp

“Gowen finally gave up on December 13, 1889. He secluded himself in a Washington hotel room, pulled out a gun and, in morbid imitation of his old enemies, killed a mine official—himself.”
― Mark Bulik, The Sons of Molly Maguire: The Irish Roots of America's First Labor War

“You have a very fine set of horses, Mr. Addleshaw, although the one with the black star on his nose does tend to shy a little when other carriages approach."

"When other carriages approach, or when you're driving on the wrong side of the street?" he countered.”
― Jen Turano, After a Fashion

“The etchings are remarkable. As the Pierpont Morgan Library will be if I am placed in the position of librarian. (25)”
― The Personal Historian

“We’ll receive everyone in the parlor, but only after I have Gibbons leave them lingering about in the receiving room for a good ten minutes or so.” - A Match in the Making by Jen Turano”
― Jen Turano, A Match in the Making

“I’m twenty-three years old and have been out in society for five Seasons, both winter and summer. It would be next to impossible to convince anyone I’m anything other than peculiar." To Spark A Match by Jen Turano 2023”
― Jen Turano, To Spark a Match

“Person 1: Do you know how America's class system works?
Person 2: America has a class system?
Person 1: Yes, that's how it works.”
― Ingrid Robeyns, Limitarianism The Case Against Extreme Wealth, The Psychology of Management & Get Sh*t Done 3 Books Collection Set

“In one breath, you fear the government getting involved with unions, welfare, or immigration laws all, in essence, aimed at helping our poor fellow Americanyet, in another breath, you look for tariffs and even subsidies.”
― Rich DiSilvio, The Arnolfini Art Mysteries

“Excuse me, Madame, but the president runs the country, not a factory. Your time is up! So please move along so that others may greet the president.”
― Rich DiSilvio, A Blazing Gilded Age

“Well, it appears my feathery quill has just as much power, influence, and value as any robber baron, for it evidently pricked your boorish skin!”
― Rich DiSilvio, A Blazing Gilded Age

“But there are other serious issues that concern me; namely, workers rights, safety regulations, and a big lament of mine, child labor issues.”
― Rich DiSilvio, A Blazing Gilded Age

“As the crew began lighting up their cigars and pipes, they could hear the ragtime music of Scott Joplin being performed by the colored composer himself enlivening the atmosphere with a jubilant feeling of gaiety, hope, and promise.”
― Rich DiSilvio, A Blazing Gilded Age

“As the waiter took their orders, Morgan took another sip of his sherry, and declared, “Well, as you said, man has already laid steel tracks into that pristine landscape.”
― Rich DiSilvio, A Blazing Gilded Age

“And it’s rather odd, because Nast is often nasty.” As Marc chuckled, Roosevelt continued, “But to my delight, he, too, has treated me fairly, at least thus far.”
― Rich DiSilvio, A Blazing Gilded Age

“Down below, the intense heat and bright light stunned and blinded the trapped moles, so accustomed to darkness.”
― Rich DiSilvio, A Blazing Gilded Age