--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But not all its avenues were paved with…" description: "\"“But not all its avenues were paved with marble nor all its denizens dwellers in palaces. Men and women of a dozen races huddled in slums and tenements..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/dave-duncan-24914_beneath-the-surface_but-not-all-its-avenues-were-paved-with_170520.jpg" --- # But not all its avenues were paved with marble nor all its… ![“But not all its avenues were paved with marble nor all its denizens dwellers in palaces. Men and women of a dozen races huddled in slums and tenements, in putrid alleys the rich never saw. For centuries, a human stream had trickled into the cesspits of Algazan: adventurers come to seek their…” quote by Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/dave-duncan-24914_beneath-the-surface_but-not-all-its-avenues-were-paved-with_170520.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/dave-duncan-24914_beneath-the-surface_but-not-all-its-avenues-were-paved-with_170520.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4b/dave-duncan-24914_beneath-the-surface_but-not-all-its-avenues-were-paved-with_170520.jpg) > ““But not all its avenues were paved with marble nor all its denizens dwellers in palaces. Men and women of a dozen races huddled in slums and tenements, in putrid alleys the rich never saw. For centuries, a human stream had trickled into the cesspits of Algazan: adventurers come to seek their fortunes, refugees from political oppression, malcontents yearning after their own gods. Few had prospered, most had sunk into dismal poverty. Their descendants congealed in lumps beneath the surface of society, enclaves of foreigners existing under uneasy tolerance—distinct from the natives, banned from the benefits of citizenship.”” [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage describes a society where wealth and privilege are limited to a few, while many diverse peoples live in poverty and marginalization, highlighting systemic inequality and social stratification. **In simple terms:** Rich live in comfort while many suffer in poverty. Key Takeaway Recognize and address systemic inequality. Themes inequality social stratification poverty diversity exclusion Mood somber reflective critical Type sociopolitical descriptive analytical When to use this quote - urban planning - policy reform - community support - education programs - social integration Key Concepts class division citizenship rights urban decay migration refugee experience Questions to Reflect On - How can societies move from tolerance to genuine inclusion? - What policies can reduce entrenched poverty? A Different Perspective Even with tolerance, marginalized groups lack true inclusion and opportunity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beneath the surface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beneath-the-surface/) [Denizens Dwellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denizens-dwellers-1846758/) [Enclaves Foreigners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enclaves-foreigners-1846754/) [Foreigners Existing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreigners-existing-1846756/) [Fortunes Refugees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortunes-refugees-1846757/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Society Enclaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-enclaves-1846755/) ## Related quotes > [“So you intend to go through life never loving anyone? Just … things?” “No. I’m looking for something more.” “More than love?” “Yes.” “Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-ahdieh/so-you-intend-to-go-through-life-never-loving-anyone-just-things-no-i/) [Renee Ahdieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-ahdieh/) > [It's like, imagine the ripples on top of an ocean. And I'm in a rowboat, reactively dealing with the waves and water coming into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-oz/it-s-like-imagine-the-ripples-on-top-of-an-ocean-and-i-m-in-a-rowboat/) [Mehmet Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-oz/) > [Be willing to face life squarely and get down beneath the surface of life where the verities and realities are to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/be-willing-to-face-life-squarely-and-get-down-beneath-the-surface-of/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [“From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to the Earth. But man has only to sink beneath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaques-barzun-cousteau/from-birth-man-carries-the-weight-of-gravity-on-his-shoulders-he-is/) [Jaques Barzun Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaques-barzun-cousteau/) > [The past lies beneath the surface, intransigent truth. Remembered or not, what we say and do remains, always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-hall/the-past-lies-beneath-the-surface-intransigent-truth-remembered-or/) [Meredith Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-hall/) > [“Her father...was all front to back in his transparency: what you saw was what there was, there was nothing clandestine in his character, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-wiggins/her-father-was-all-front-to-back-in-his-transparency-what-you-saw-was/) [Marianne Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-wiggins/) > [All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/all-art-is-at-once-surface-and-symbol-those-who-go-beneath-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Yes, the hermitage is underground--miles beneath the surface of Antarctica. And yes, Ike refers to it as unten--literally 'under' or 'below.' But, hello, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leyner/yes-the-hermitage-is-underground-miles-beneath-the-surface-of/) [Mark Leyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leyner/) > [I prefer neurotic people. I like to hear rumblings beneath the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-prefer-neurotic-people-i-like-to-hear-rumblings-beneath-the-surface/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I'm of that generation of Jews still deeply influenced by the Holocaust. Certainly the notion that the state power to kill can be subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-turow/i-m-of-that-generation-of-jews-still-deeply-influenced-by-the/) [Scott Turow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-turow/) > [Whether it is photography, assemblage art or filmmaking, my work is to see beneath the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christophe-agou/whether-it-is-photography-assemblage-art-or-filmmaking-my-work-is-to/) [Christophe Agou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christophe-agou/) > [“The burning glow of fire basked him in a warm light. I feared to look at him, to study him again after the train,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-z-ryans/the-burning-glow-of-fire-basked-him-in-a-warm-light-i-feared-to-look/) [Rae Z. Ryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-z-ryans/) > [Stir not murky waters if you know not the depth or the creatures that dwell beneath the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-davis/stir-not-murky-waters-if-you-know-not-the-depth-or-the-creatures-that/) [Bryan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-davis/) > [We are true to our name. We're somewhat beneath the surface, and I think well always be to a certain extent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-thought/we-are-true-to-our-name-we-re-somewhat-beneath-the-surface-and-i/) [Black Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-thought/) > [“My problem now was that no one was will- ing to look deep enough to see the real me that lay dormant beneath the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacey-weatherford/my-problem-now-was-that-no-one-was-will-ing-to-look-deep-enough-to/) [Lacey Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lacey-weatherford/) ## More by Dave Duncan > [“People believe what they want to believe, lad. It’s very hard to believe in anything that will make you unhappy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/people-believe-what-they-want-to-believe-lad-it-s-very-hard-to/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) > [“I never tell you lies, imp. But sometimes I don’t tell everybody all the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/i-never-tell-you-lies-imp-but-sometimes-i-don-t-tell-everybody-all/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) > [“The people learned that they could grumble without being disloyal, because the ministers were not beloved kings above reproach, but only rather stupid people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/the-people-learned-that-they-could-grumble-without-being-disloyal/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) > [“In my experience, luck is more output than input,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/in-my-experience-luck-is-more-output-than-input/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) > [“He was so diplomatic he hardly spoke at all...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/he-was-so-diplomatic-he-hardly-spoke-at-all/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) > [“The world once had real problems with heretics splitting the Church and infidels at the gates of Vienna. What real benefit was the discovery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/the-world-once-had-real-problems-with-heretics-splitting-the-church/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) > [“wars are like love affairs—easy to start, hard to end, and outrageously expensive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/wars-are-like-love-affairs-easy-to-start-hard-to-end-and-outrageously/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) > [“Now he seemed to be stranded for the rest of his life on a world unknown, more exotic than anywhere Haggard ever Rode or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/now-he-seemed-to-be-stranded-for-the-rest-of-his-life-on-a-world/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) > [“No, she who rides the tiger can never dismount!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/no-she-who-rides-the-tiger-can-never-dismount/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) > [“We were not mad youngsters, but love is not confined to the young. Indeed, true love is a phenomenon of middle age, for only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/we-were-not-mad-youngsters-but-love-is-not-confined-to-the-young/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) > [“Revenge was violence and therefore forbidden by the Teacher - excepting violence against unbelievers, of course, which this probably would be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/revenge-was-violence-and-therefore-forbidden-by-the-teacher-excepting/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) > [“Preparing for war, as was well known in other lands but perhaps not then in that one, is usually a self-fulfilling precaution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/preparing-for-war-as-was-well-known-in-other-lands-but-perhaps-not/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) > [“He was their leader, and a leader must never admit to doubts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/he-was-their-leader-and-a-leader-must-never-admit-to-doubts/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) > [“What was wrong with darkness? In the darkness of the Earth the Mother caused seeds to sprout. In the darkness of the womb a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/what-was-wrong-with-darkness-in-the-darkness-of-the-earth-the-mother/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) > [“ first reaction to the indescribable, stupid, and undignified procedure required for procreation had been disappointment...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-duncan/first-reaction-to-the-indescribable-stupid-and-undignified-procedure/) [Dave Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) [Explore all 23 Dave Duncan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-duncan/) ## More Beneath the surface quotes > [“So you intend to go through life never loving anyone? Just … things?” “No. I’m looking for something more.” “More than love?” “Yes.” “Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-ahdieh/so-you-intend-to-go-through-life-never-loving-anyone-just-things-no-i/) [Renee Ahdieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-ahdieh/) > [We are true to our name. We're somewhat beneath the surface, and I think well always be to a certain extent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-thought/we-are-true-to-our-name-we-re-somewhat-beneath-the-surface-and-i/) [Black Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-thought/) > [Stir not murky waters if you know not the depth or the creatures that dwell beneath the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-davis/stir-not-murky-waters-if-you-know-not-the-depth-or-the-creatures-that/) [Bryan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-davis/) > [“The burning glow of fire basked him in a warm light. I feared to look at him, to study him again after the train,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-z-ryans/the-burning-glow-of-fire-basked-him-in-a-warm-light-i-feared-to-look/) [Rae Z. Ryans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-z-ryans/) > [Whether it is photography, assemblage art or filmmaking, my work is to see beneath the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christophe-agou/whether-it-is-photography-assemblage-art-or-filmmaking-my-work-is-to/) [Christophe Agou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christophe-agou/) > [I'm of that generation of Jews still deeply influenced by the Holocaust. Certainly the notion that the state power to kill can be subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-turow/i-m-of-that-generation-of-jews-still-deeply-influenced-by-the/) [Scott Turow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-turow/) > [I prefer neurotic people. I like to hear rumblings beneath the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-prefer-neurotic-people-i-like-to-hear-rumblings-beneath-the-surface/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“Yes, the hermitage is underground--miles beneath the surface of Antarctica. And yes, Ike refers to it as unten--literally 'under' or 'below.' But, hello, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leyner/yes-the-hermitage-is-underground-miles-beneath-the-surface-of/) [Mark Leyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leyner/) > [All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/all-art-is-at-once-surface-and-symbol-those-who-go-beneath-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Her father...was all front to back in his transparency: what you saw was what there was, there was nothing clandestine in his character, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-wiggins/her-father-was-all-front-to-back-in-his-transparency-what-you-saw-was/) [Marianne Wiggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-wiggins/) > [The past lies beneath the surface, intransigent truth. Remembered or not, what we say and do remains, always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-hall/the-past-lies-beneath-the-surface-intransigent-truth-remembered-or/) [Meredith Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-hall/) > [“From birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders. He is bolted to the Earth. But man has only to sink beneath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaques-barzun-cousteau/from-birth-man-carries-the-weight-of-gravity-on-his-shoulders-he-is/) [Jaques Barzun Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaques-barzun-cousteau/) > [Be willing to face life squarely and get down beneath the surface of life where the verities and realities are to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/be-willing-to-face-life-squarely-and-get-down-beneath-the-surface-of/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [It's like, imagine the ripples on top of an ocean. And I'm in a rowboat, reactively dealing with the waves and water coming into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-oz/it-s-like-imagine-the-ripples-on-top-of-an-ocean-and-i-m-in-a-rowboat/) [Mehmet Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-oz/) > [“My problem now was that no one was will- ing to look deep enough to see the real me that lay dormant beneath the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacey-weatherford/my-problem-now-was-that-no-one-was-will-ing-to-look-deep-enough-to/) [Lacey Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lacey-weatherford/) [Browse all 295 Beneath the surface quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beneath-the-surface/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But not all its avenues were paved with marble nor all its denizens dwellers in palaces. Men and women of a dozen races huddled in slums and tenements, in putrid alleys the rich never saw. 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