--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: turned back toward the filling station, a…" description: "\"“turned back toward the filling station, a sprawling blemish beside the old highway.”\" — Bob McElwain" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/bob-mcelwain-62787_blemish_turned-back-toward-the-filling-station-a_140103.jpg" --- # turned back toward the filling station, a sprawling… ![“turned back toward the filling station, a sprawling blemish beside the old highway.” quote by Bob McElwain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/bob-mcelwain-62787_blemish_turned-back-toward-the-filling-station-a_140103.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/bob-mcelwain-62787_blemish_turned-back-toward-the-filling-station-a_140103.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/bob-mcelwain-62787_blemish_turned-back-toward-the-filling-station-a_140103.jpg) > ““turned back toward the filling station, a sprawling blemish beside the old highway.”” [Bob McElwain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcelwain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A bleak, conspicuous gas station disrupts the highway landscape. **In simple terms:** A gas station stands out as an eyesore on the road. Key Takeaway Notice how small details affect perception of place. Themes urban decay landscape travel visual impact environment Mood reflective critical Type observational descriptive When to use this quote - highway - roadside - travel photography Key Concepts architecture environmental psychology road trips Questions to Reflect On - Why do we label places “blemishes”? - What does this reveal about our values? A Different Perspective May ignore broader context of necessity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blemish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blemish/) ## Related quotes > [On the old highway maps of America, the main routes were red and the back roads blue. Now even the colors are changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-least-heat-moon/on-the-old-highway-maps-of-america-the-main-routes-were-red-and-the/) [William Least Heat-Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-least-heat-moon/) > [“As if hypnotized, he felt his gaze rise again to the old highway which swept by with winds that smelled a billion years ago.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-if-hypnotized-he-felt-his-gaze-rise-again-to-the-old-highway-which/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Dishonesty of any kind will create a blemish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/dishonesty-of-any-kind-will-create-a-blemish/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [One must regard the hyphen as a blemish to be avoided wherever possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/one-must-regard-the-hyphen-as-a-blemish-to-be-avoided-wherever/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“THIS IS WHAT A MAN LOOKS LIKE. HE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING; HE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE MUSCULAR; HE DESERVES…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnostic-zetetic/this-is-what-a-man-looks-like-he-does-not-have-to-be-aesthetically/) Agnostic Zetetic > [If I do get a blemish, I use Clinique Acne Solutions spot treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-windsor/if-i-do-get-a-blemish-i-use-clinique-acne-solutions-spot-treatment/) [Devon Windsor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-windsor/) > [To the eye of enmity virtue appears the ugliest blemish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/to-the-eye-of-enmity-virtue-appears-the-ugliest-blemish/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [“Our flaws either follow us into the world, or wait for us to be born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/our-flaws-either-follow-us-into-the-world-or-wait-for-us-to-be-born/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“We are nothing without them, our scars and our blemishes. Take away our delusional smiles if you must, snatch away our illusory happiness if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shruti-upadhaya/we-are-nothing-without-them-our-scars-and-our-blemishes-take-away-our/) Shruti Upadhaya > [Growing up, we talked about all you have is your last name. That's what people will remember you by and that's how people know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/growing-up-we-talked-about-all-you-have-is-your-last-name-that-s-what/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [we Princes are set as it were upon stages, in the sight and view of all the world. The least spot is soon spied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/we-princes-are-set-as-it-were-upon-stages-in-the-sight-and-view-of/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [“ blemish, n. The slight acne scars. The penny-sized, penny-shaped birthmark right above your knee. The dot below your shoulder that must have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/blemish-n-the-slight-acne-scars-the-penny-sized-penny-shaped/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I’m not a romantic, I’m a half-wit. Only stupid people would think I’m smart. I’m not something anyone should know. I’m a lunatic wandering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/i-m-not-a-romantic-i-m-a-half-wit-only-stupid-people-would-think-i-m/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [“... for a man may cover his blemish, but unbind it he cannot, for where once 'tis applied, thence part will it never.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/for-a-man-may-cover-his-blemish-but-unbind-it-he-cannot-for-where/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“Kimi Kanasket was a black mark on an otherwise joyous occasion, like the drunk uncle who causes a scene at a family wedding. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dugoni/kimi-kanasket-was-a-black-mark-on-an-otherwise-joyous-occasion-like/) [Robert Dugoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dugoni/) ## More by Bob McElwain > [“Ever seen a bullfight? The bull really never has a chance. It's only a carefully staged show. But if they let that bull loose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcelwain/ever-seen-a-bullfight-the-bull-really-never-has-a-chance-it-s-only-a/) [Bob McElwain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcelwain/) > [“Importance is a fleeting thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcelwain/importance-is-a-fleeting-thing/) [Bob McElwain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcelwain/) > [“finally picked up the wallet, then slowly walked from the room closing the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcelwain/finally-picked-up-the-wallet-then-slowly-walked-from-the-room-closing/) [Bob McElwain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcelwain/) > [“sun’s rays, Brad knew”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcelwain/sun-s-rays-brad-knew/) [Bob McElwain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcelwain/) [Explore all 5 Bob McElwain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcelwain/) ## More Blemish quotes > [“Kimi Kanasket was a black mark on an otherwise joyous occasion, like the drunk uncle who causes a scene at a family wedding. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dugoni/kimi-kanasket-was-a-black-mark-on-an-otherwise-joyous-occasion-like/) [Robert Dugoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dugoni/) > [“... for a man may cover his blemish, but unbind it he cannot, for where once 'tis applied, thence part will it never.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/for-a-man-may-cover-his-blemish-but-unbind-it-he-cannot-for-where/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [I’m not a romantic, I’m a half-wit. Only stupid people would think I’m smart. I’m not something anyone should know. I’m a lunatic wandering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/i-m-not-a-romantic-i-m-a-half-wit-only-stupid-people-would-think-i-m/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [“ blemish, n. The slight acne scars. The penny-sized, penny-shaped birthmark right above your knee. The dot below your shoulder that must have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/blemish-n-the-slight-acne-scars-the-penny-sized-penny-shaped/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [we Princes are set as it were upon stages, in the sight and view of all the world. The least spot is soon spied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/we-princes-are-set-as-it-were-upon-stages-in-the-sight-and-view-of/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [Growing up, we talked about all you have is your last name. That's what people will remember you by and that's how people know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-stills/growing-up-we-talked-about-all-you-have-is-your-last-name-that-s-what/) [Kenny Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-stills/) > [“We are nothing without them, our scars and our blemishes. Take away our delusional smiles if you must, snatch away our illusory happiness if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shruti-upadhaya/we-are-nothing-without-them-our-scars-and-our-blemishes-take-away-our/) Shruti Upadhaya > [“Our flaws either follow us into the world, or wait for us to be born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/our-flaws-either-follow-us-into-the-world-or-wait-for-us-to-be-born/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [To the eye of enmity virtue appears the ugliest blemish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/to-the-eye-of-enmity-virtue-appears-the-ugliest-blemish/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [If I do get a blemish, I use Clinique Acne Solutions spot treatment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-windsor/if-i-do-get-a-blemish-i-use-clinique-acne-solutions-spot-treatment/) [Devon Windsor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-windsor/) > [“THIS IS WHAT A MAN LOOKS LIKE. HE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING; HE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE MUSCULAR; HE DESERVES…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnostic-zetetic/this-is-what-a-man-looks-like-he-does-not-have-to-be-aesthetically/) Agnostic Zetetic > [One must regard the hyphen as a blemish to be avoided wherever possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/one-must-regard-the-hyphen-as-a-blemish-to-be-avoided-wherever/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Dishonesty of any kind will create a blemish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/dishonesty-of-any-kind-will-create-a-blemish/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [It is hard to be truly excellent, four-square in hand and foot and mind, formed without blemish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simonides-of-ceos/it-is-hard-to-be-truly-excellent-four-square-in-hand-and-foot-and/) [Simonides of Ceos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simonides-of-ceos/) > [“I only know what it is that's wrong with him; not why it is." And what is it?" asked Lucy fearfully, expecting some harrowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/i-only-know-what-it-is-that-s-wrong-with-him-not-why-it-is-and-what/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) [Browse all 18 Blemish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blemish/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“turned back toward the filling station, a sprawling blemish beside the old highway.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bob McElwain" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcelwain/turned-back-toward-the-filling-station-a-sprawling-blemish-beside-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blemish" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcelwain/turned-back-toward-the-filling-station-a-sprawling-blemish-beside-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/bob-mcelwain-62787_blemish_turned-back-toward-the-filling-station-a_140103.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/bob-mcelwain-62787_blemish_turned-back-toward-the-filling-station-a_140103.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/bob-mcelwain-62787_blemish_turned-back-toward-the-filling-station-a_140103.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“turned back toward the filling station, a sprawling blemish beside the old highway.” — Bob McElwain", "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": "Bob McElwain", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mcelwain/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“turned back toward the filling station,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcelwain/turned-back-toward-the-filling-station-a-sprawling-blemish-beside-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mcelwain/turned-back-toward-the-filling-station-a-sprawling-blemish-beside-the/#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 } } ] } ```