The person who is able to see but unable to hear is much more... troubled than the person who is able to hear but unable to see. There is something... characteristic of the big city. The interpersonal relationships of people in big cities are characterized by a markedly greater emphasis on the use of the eyes than on the ears. This can be attributed chiefly to the institution of public conveyance. Before buses, railways and trams became fully established during the 19C, people were never put in the position of having to stare at one another for minutes or even hours on end without exchanging a word.
Georg Simmel (Soziologie) Leipzig 1908
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