Minus the question mark, this post title comes courtesy of William George Jordan, who gave it to a chapter of his 1898 book, The Majesty of Calmness. Because, one-hundred-and-something years later, it seems just as, or yet more relevant, especially in this city. The sidewalk squash, the microwave meal, the rat race. New York City is hurry, hurry, hurry.
But the question mark’s there because I’m curious to know how accurate my outsider (I’m a recent trans-Atlantic migrant) assessment is. And if I’m spot on about the rush, is it actually a scourge? Was WG Jordan right when he wrote that it “has ruined more Americans than has any other word in the vocabulary of life”? Or is The Majesty of Calmness so much 19th century hyperbole?
So, see if you can squeeze in (into your busy, busy day?) this short survey. It will take just a couple of minutes, if you hurry.