--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And then, as I watched the sheep…" description: "\"“And then, as I watched the sheep peacefully nibbling the grass, it came to me that Hyde Park has never belonged to any London – that it has always bee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f69/dodie-smith-1724_countryside_and-then-as-i-watched-the-sheep-peaceful_2634664.png" --- # And then, as I watched the sheep peacefully nibbling the… ![“And then, as I watched the sheep peacefully nibbling the grass, it came to me that Hyde Park has never belonged to any London – that it has always been, in spirit, a stretch of the countryside; and that it thus links the Londons of all periods together most magically – by remaining for ever…” quote by Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f69/dodie-smith-1724_countryside_and-then-as-i-watched-the-sheep-peaceful_2634664.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f69/dodie-smith-1724_countryside_and-then-as-i-watched-the-sheep-peaceful_2634664.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f69/dodie-smith-1724_countryside_and-then-as-i-watched-the-sheep-peaceful_2634664.png) > ““And then, as I watched the sheep peacefully nibbling the grass, it came to me that Hyde Park has never belonged to any London – that it has always been, in spirit, a stretch of the countryside; and that it thus links the Londons of all periods together most magically – by remaining for ever unchanged at the heart of the ever-changing town.”” [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hyde Park, though physically part of London, feels like an eternal countryside, linking all eras of the city through its unchanging natural core amidst urban change. **In simple terms:** Hyde Park remains a timeless countryside within London. Key Takeaway Value enduring natural spaces that anchor changing environments. Themes urbanism nature continuity Mood nostalgic hopeful Type reflective advice When to use this quote - urban development - tourism - community gatherings Key Concepts city planning historical identity environmental preservation Questions to Reflect On - How can cities preserve timeless natural areas? - What role do such spaces play in community identity? A Different Perspective Urban growth can threaten such spaces. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Countryside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countryside/) [Hyde park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hyde-park/) [London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/london/) ## Related quotes > [It came to me that Hyde Park has never belonged to London - that it has always been , in spirit, a stretch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/it-came-to-me-that-hyde-park-has-never-belonged-to-london-that-it-has/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [He stood staring into the wood for a minute, then said: "What is it about the English countryside — why is the beauty so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/he-stood-staring-into-the-wood-for-a-minute-then-said-what-is-it/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [I may live in London, but I'll go back to the country one day. 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I used to go up to Hyde Park and hold her papers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-funt/i-learned-the-power-of-radio-watching-eleanor-roosevelt-do-her-show-i/) Allen Funt > [“I missed her so much that I wanted to build a hundred-foot memorial to her with my bare hands. I wanted to see her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-porter/i-missed-her-so-much-that-i-wanted-to-build-a-hundred-foot-memorial/) [Max Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-porter/) > [Then I lost him for a brief period of time, and by the time I caught up with him, he had wandered into Hyde…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/then-i-lost-him-for-a-brief-period-of-time-and-by-the-time-i-caught/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [We owe America something because they turned us into a touring band. But at least we feel confident about appearing in Britain again now.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-marriott/we-owe-america-something-because-they-turned-us-into-a-touring-band/) Steve Marriott ## More by Dodie Smith > [“I glanced through another page in case I had missed something, and came to the description of Simon's face as he lay on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/i-glanced-through-another-page-in-case-i-had-missed-something-and/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [They call them the haunted shores, these stretches of Devonshire and Cornwall and Ireland which rear up against the westward ocean. Mists gather here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/they-call-them-the-haunted-shores-these-stretches-of-devonshire-and/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [“Now, paper and pencils," said Miss Marcy, clapping her hands. Writing paper is scarce in this house, and I had no intention of tearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/now-paper-and-pencils-said-miss-marcy-clapping-her-hands-writing/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [It's odd how different a house feels when one is alone in it. It makes it easier to think rather private thoughts...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/it-s-odd-how-different-a-house-feels-when-one-is-alone-in-it-it-makes/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [The tea was a comfort - and by that time I more than needed comfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/the-tea-was-a-comfort-and-by-that-time-i-more-than-needed-comfort/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [Like many other much-loved humans, they believed that they owned their dogs, instead of realizing that their dogs owned them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/like-many-other-much-loved-humans-they-believed-that-they-owned-their/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [“And I suspect that, to the eyes of love, love shows. I knew about you as well as about myself, almost from the beginning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/and-i-suspect-that-to-the-eyes-of-love-love-shows-i-knew-about-you-as/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [“The thought was horrible, yet fascinating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/the-thought-was-horrible-yet-fascinating/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [“What I'd really hate would be the settled feeling, with nothing but happiness to look forward to. Of course no life is perfectly happy-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/what-i-d-really-hate-would-be-the-settled-feeling-with-nothing-but/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [Truthfulness so often goes with ruthlessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/truthfulness-so-often-goes-with-ruthlessness/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [Am I really admitting that my sister is determined to marry a man she has only seen once and doesn't much like the look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/am-i-really-admitting-that-my-sister-is-determined-to-marry-a-man-she/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [“There are some people who always find beauty makes them feel sadder, which is a very mysterious thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/there-are-some-people-who-always-find-beauty-makes-them-feel-sadder/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [“You're the kind of child who might develop a passion for Bach." I told him I hadn't at school. The one Bach piece I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/you-re-the-kind-of-child-who-might-develop-a-passion-for-bach-i-told/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [When things mean a very great deal to you, exciting anticipation just isn't safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/when-things-mean-a-very-great-deal-to-you-exciting-anticipation-just/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [I could marry the Devil himself if he had some money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/i-could-marry-the-devil-himself-if-he-had-some-money/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) [Explore all 211 Dodie Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) ## More Countryside quotes > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [“In East Sussex, let us say, an old farm sleeps in sun-dapple, its oast-house with its cowls echoing the distant steeple of SS Andrew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-m-w-wemyss/in-east-sussex-let-us-say-an-old-farm-sleeps-in-sun-dapple-its-oast/) [G.M.W. 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And I share your concern.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-are-worried-about-what-man-has-done-and-is-doing-to-this-magical/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [My father was trained as a saddler, but in fact as a young man worked in his father's business of rearing and selling cattle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-klug/my-father-was-trained-as-a-saddler-but-in-fact-as-a-young-man-worked/) [Aaron Klug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-klug/) > [Britain still has the most reliably beautiful countryside of anywhere in the world. I would hate to be part of the generation that allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/britain-still-has-the-most-reliably-beautiful-countryside-of-anywhere/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [Gail Anderson-Dargatz has a noticing eye, a voice as unique as the countryside she writes about, and a heart large enough to love her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hodgins/gail-anderson-dargatz-has-a-noticing-eye-a-voice-as-unique-as-the/) Jack Hodgins > [What e'er you are That in this desert inaccessible, Under the shade of melancholy boughs, Lose and neglect the creeping hours of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-e-er-you-are-that-in-this-desert-inaccessible-under-the-shade-of/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There are some delightful places in this world which have a sensual charm for the eyes. One loves them with a physical love. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/there-are-some-delightful-places-in-this-world-which-have-a-sensual/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [I like girls who like the countryside, put on walking boots and can bend with the wind a bit. 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