--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: in a city where everything seemed to be…" description: "\"“in a city where everything seemed to be trying to stand still for ever on the ruins of something else—except the water, which, following eternal laws,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/anonymous-1_ruins_in-a-city-where-everything-seemed-to-be_3028777.jpg" --- # in a city where everything seemed to be trying to stand… ![“in a city where everything seemed to be trying to stand still for ever on the ruins of something else—except the water, which, following eternal laws, tumbled and rolled from its glorious multitude of fountains.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/anonymous-1_ruins_in-a-city-where-everything-seemed-to-be_3028777.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/anonymous-1_ruins_in-a-city-where-everything-seemed-to-be_3028777.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/anonymous-1_ruins_in-a-city-where-everything-seemed-to-be_3028777.jpg) > ““in a city where everything seemed to be trying to stand still for ever on the ruins of something else—except the water, which, following eternal laws, tumbled and rolled from its glorious multitude of fountains.”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even amidst stagnation, water persists, symbolizing relentless change and resilience. **In simple terms:** Water keeps moving despite stillness. Key Takeaway Recognize persistent forces of change. Themes change resilience nature Mood hopeful contemplative Type poetic inspirational When to use this quote - urban decay - environmental cycles - personal growth Key Concepts flow entropy continuity Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay adaptable? - What forces keep you moving forward? A Different Perspective Change can be slow and unnoticed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Laws Tumbled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-tumbled-4937591/) [Multitude Fountains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multitude-fountains-4937592/) [Ruins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) [Ruins Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins-water-4937593/) [Tumbled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tumbled-1619163/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [“Maybe you've tumbled a world for me. And I don't know what I can build in my world's place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/maybe-you-ve-tumbled-a-world-for-me-and-i-don-t-know-what-i-can-build/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“My heart tumbled in pieces at her feet as she chipped away at it with her wondrous ways, and it didn't form a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fisher-amelie/my-heart-tumbled-in-pieces-at-her-feet-as-she-chipped-away-at-it-with/) [Fisher Amelie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fisher-amelie/) > [Nature is not a temple, but a ruin. A beautiful ruin, but a ruin all the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nature-is-not-a-temple-but-a-ruin-a-beautiful-ruin-but-a-ruin-all-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everybody is equally weak on the inside, just that some present their ruins as new castles and become kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everybody-is-equally-weak-on-the-inside-just-that-some-present-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Within tears, find hidden laughter Seek treasures amid ruins, sincere one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/within-tears-find-hidden-laughter-seek-treasures-amid-ruins-sincere/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What is experience? A poor little hut constructed from the ruins of the palace of gold and marble called our illusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-experience-a-poor-little-hut-constructed-from-the-ruins-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sadness to me is the happiest time, When a shining city rises from the ruins of my drunken mind. Those times when I'm silent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sadness-to-me-is-the-happiest-time-when-a-shining-city-rises-from-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Patriotism ruins history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/patriotism-ruins-history/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Over-thinking leads to negative thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/over-thinking-leads-to-negative-thoughts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All right, stop whatcha doin, cause I'm about to ruin The image and the style that you're used to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-right-stop-whatcha-doin-cause-i-m-about-to-ruin-the-image-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The people of England will curse themselves for having preferred ruin from Churchill to peace from Hitler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-people-of-england-will-curse-themselves-for-having-preferred-ruin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is my belief: that through difficulties and problems God gives us the opportunity to grow. So when your hopes and dreams and goals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-is-my-belief-that-through-difficulties-and-problems-god-gives-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But we had with us, to keep and to care for, more than five hundred bruised bodies of men- men made in the image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-we-had-with-us-to-keep-and-to-care-for-more-than-five-hundred/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As soon as you raise a thought and begin to form an idea of it, you ruin the reality itself, because you then attach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-soon-as-you-raise-a-thought-and-begin-to-form-an-idea-of-it-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Archaeology, I found, comprehended all manner of excitement and achievement. Adventure is coupled with bookish toil. Romantic excursions go hand in hand with scholarly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/archaeology-i-found-comprehended-all-manner-of-excitement-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Ruins quotes > [Above Coblentz almost every mountain has a ruin and a legend. One feels everywhere the spirit of the past, and its stirring recollections come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/above-coblentz-almost-every-mountain-has-a-ruin-and-a-legend-one/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) > [The less we show our love to a woman, Or please her less, and neglect our duty, The more we trap and ruin her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pushkin/the-less-we-show-our-love-to-a-woman-or-please-her-less-and-neglect/) [Alexander Pushkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pushkin/) > [I do like talking with friends about big concepts, you know, the stuff that will ruin a party. To me, the party hasn't begun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/i-do-like-talking-with-friends-about-big-concepts-you-know-the-stuff/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ann-shaffer/reading-good-books-ruins-you-for-enjoying-bad-books/) [Mary Ann Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ann-shaffer/) > [A thousand years may scare form a state. An hour may lay it in ruins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/a-thousand-years-may-scare-form-a-state-an-hour-may-lay-it-in-ruins/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Good taste ruins certain true spiritual values: such as taste itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-chanel/good-taste-ruins-certain-true-spiritual-values-such-as-taste-itself/) [Coco Chanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-chanel/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [The chief wonder of education is that it does not ruin everybody concerned in it, teachers and taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/the-chief-wonder-of-education-is-that-it-does-not-ruin-everybody/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [I would hate to see a UFO. Because it would ruin my life. I would have to talk about it the rest of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-costner/i-would-hate-to-see-a-ufo-because-it-would-ruin-my-life-i-would-have/) [Kevin Costner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-costner/) > [Ruin, eldest daughter of Zeus, she blinds us all, that fatal madness—she with those delicate feet of hers, never touching the earth, gliding over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/ruin-eldest-daughter-of-zeus-she-blinds-us-all-that-fatal-madness-she/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know, Can it be death? And do they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/knowledge-forbidden-suspicious-reasonless-why-should-their-lord-envy/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [I'm going to college. I don't care if it ruins my career. I'd rather be smart than a movie star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/i-m-going-to-college-i-don-t-care-if-it-ruins-my-career-i-d-rather-be/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [With Your great schemes, You ruin our happiness like a harvester ruins a mouse's nest: I hate You, God, I hate You as though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/with-your-great-schemes-you-ruin-our-happiness-like-a-harvester-ruins/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) [Browse all 1,622 Ruins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruins/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“in a city where everything seemed to be trying to stand still for ever on the ruins of something else—except the water, which, following eternal laws, tumbled and rolled from its glorious multitude of fountains.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-a-city-where-everything-seemed-to-be-trying-to-stand-still-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ruins" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-a-city-where-everything-seemed-to-be-trying-to-stand-still-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/anonymous-1_ruins_in-a-city-where-everything-seemed-to-be_3028777.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/anonymous-1_ruins_in-a-city-where-everything-seemed-to-be_3028777.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/anonymous-1_ruins_in-a-city-where-everything-seemed-to-be_3028777.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“in a city where everything seemed to be trying to stand still for ever on the ruins of something else—except…” — Anonymous", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“in a city where everything seemed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-a-city-where-everything-seemed-to-be-trying-to-stand-still-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-a-city-where-everything-seemed-to-be-trying-to-stand-still-for/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```