--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Safe upon the solid rock the ugly houses…" description: "\"Safe upon the solid rock the ugly houses stand. Come and see my shining palace built upon the sand!\" — Edna St. Vincent Millay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/edna-st-vincent-millay-1291_house_safe-upon-the-solid-rock-the-ugly-houses_262696.jpg" --- # Safe upon the solid rock the ugly houses stand. Come and… ![“Safe upon the solid rock the ugly houses stand. Come and see my shining palace built upon the sand!” quote by Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/edna-st-vincent-millay-1291_house_safe-upon-the-solid-rock-the-ugly-houses_262696.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/edna-st-vincent-millay-1291_house_safe-upon-the-solid-rock-the-ugly-houses_262696.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/339/edna-st-vincent-millay-1291_house_safe-upon-the-solid-rock-the-ugly-houses_262696.jpg) > “Safe upon the solid rock the ugly houses stand. Come and see my shining palace built upon the sand!” [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contrast between enduring truth and fleeting illusion, urging humility and discernment. **In simple terms:** True foundations vs. false appearances. Key Takeaway Choose lasting values over superficial allure. Themes humility truth illusion Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal decisions - leadership choices - public statements Key Concepts philosophy metaphor Questions to Reflect On - What foundations do you rely on? - How do you recognize lasting value? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Built Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built-sand-733781/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Houses Stand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/houses-stand-2586493/) [Palace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/palace/) [Palace Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/palace-built-997669/) [Palaces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/palaces/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Safe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe/) [Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sand/) [Shining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shining/) [Shining Palace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shining-palace-2586492/) [Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stones/) [Ugly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ugly/) ## Related quotes > [“ Second Fig Safe upon the solid rock the ugly houses stand: Come and see my shining palace built upon the sand!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/second-fig-safe-upon-the-solid-rock-the-ugly-houses-stand-come-and/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [The palace we built has become a prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2d/the-palace-we-built-has-become-a-prison/) [2D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2d/) > [The court is like a palace built of marble; I mean that it is made up of very hard but very polished people. \[Fr.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/the-court-is-like-a-palace-built-of-marble-i-mean-that-it-is-made-up/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [“Her netlink fished for information, telling her that the palace had been built after World War IV, when the city was little more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/her-netlink-fished-for-information-telling-her-that-the-palace-had/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“Kammy could see the palace built into the cliff face. It was a majestic construction. Its white walls stretched up into a cluster of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-crown/kammy-could-see-the-palace-built-into-the-cliff-face-it-was-a/) [Natalie Crown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-crown/) > [One only needs to see a smile in a white crape bonnet in order to enter the palace of dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/one-only-needs-to-see-a-smile-in-a-white-crape-bonnet-in-order-to/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [There are rumours of fractions within the Palace dressing room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-derry/there-are-rumours-of-fractions-within-the-palace-dressing-room/) [Shaun Derry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-derry/) > [The Cemetery of Forgotten Books is like the greatest, most fantastic library you could ever imagine. It's a labyrinth of books with tunnels, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/the-cemetery-of-forgotten-books-is-like-the-greatest-most-fantastic/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Corney & Barrow are proud to have the royal warrant, meaning that they provide the Palace with some of the greatest - and necessarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/corney-barrow-are-proud-to-have-the-royal-warrant-meaning-that-they/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [I've nothing against the Queen personally: I had lunch at the Palace once upon a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/i-ve-nothing-against-the-queen-personally-i-had-lunch-at-the-palace/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [I classify Sao Paolo this way: The Governor's Palace is the living room. The mayor's office is the dining room and the city is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolina-maria-de-jesus/i-classify-sao-paolo-this-way-the-governor-s-palace-is-the-living/) [Carolina Maria de Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolina-maria-de-jesus/) > [I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God than live in that palace at Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-jackson/i-would-rather-be-a-doorkeeper-in-the-house-of-god-than-live-in-that/) [Rachel Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-jackson/) > [This rose of pearl-coated infinity transforms the diseased slums of a broken heart into a palace made of psalms and gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/this-rose-of-pearl-coated-infinity-transforms-the-diseased-slums-of-a/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [Whoever prefers the material comforts of life over intellectual wealth is like the owner of a palace who moves into the servants’ quarters and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/whoever-prefers-the-material-comforts-of-life-over-intellectual/) [Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/) > [My dreams were always small and puny. All I ever needed was a little house with a little picket fence by the sea. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/my-dreams-were-always-small-and-puny-all-i-ever-needed-was-a-little/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) ## More by Edna St. Vincent Millay > [Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/into-the-darkness-they-go-the-wise-and-the-lovely/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [There are a hundred places where I fear To go, --so with his memory they brim! And entering with relief some quiet place Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/there-are-a-hundred-places-where-i-fear-to-go-so-with-his-memory-they/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [The first rose on my rose-tree Budded, bloomed, and shattered, During sad days when to me Nothing mattered. Grief or grief has drained me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/the-first-rose-on-my-rose-tree-budded-bloomed-and-shattered-during/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [A Poem from Edna St. Vincent Millay: Grown-up Was it for this I uttered prayers, And sobbed and cursed and kicked the stairs, That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/a-poem-from-edna-st-vincent-millay-grown-up-was-it-for-this-i-uttered/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [She is happy where she lies With the dust upon her eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/she-is-happy-where-she-lies-with-the-dust-upon-her-eyes/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [And reaching up my hand to try, I screamed to feel it touch the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/and-reaching-up-my-hand-to-try-i-screamed-to-feel-it-touch-the-sky/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [“And you as well must die, beloved dust, And all your beauty stand you in no stead; This flawless, vital hand, this perfect head,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/and-you-as-well-must-die-beloved-dust-and-all-your-beauty-stand-you/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [Oh, children, growing up to be Adventurers into sophistry, Forbear, forbear to be of those That read the rood to learn the rose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/oh-children-growing-up-to-be-adventurers-into-sophistry-forbear/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [After the feet of beauty fly my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/after-the-feet-of-beauty-fly-my-own/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [Some of us have been thinking and talking too long without doing anything. Poems are perfect; picketing, sometimes, is better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/some-of-us-have-been-thinking-and-talking-too-long-without-doing/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [“But, sure, the sky is big, I said; Miles and miles above my head; So here upon my back I'll lie And look my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/but-sure-the-sky-is-big-i-said-miles-and-miles-above-my-head-so-here/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [pity me that the heart is slow to learn what the swift mind beholds at every turn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/pity-me-that-the-heart-is-slow-to-learn-what-the-swift-mind-beholds/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [Youth, have no pity; leave no farthing here For age to invest in compromise and fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/youth-have-no-pity-leave-no-farthing-here-for-age-to-invest-in/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [My god is all gods in one. When I see a beautiful sunset, I worship the god of Nature; when I see a hidden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/my-god-is-all-gods-in-one-when-i-see-a-beautiful-sunset-i-worship-the/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [“Tea was sucha comfort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/tea-was-sucha-comfort/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) [Explore all 260 Edna St. Vincent Millay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) ## More House quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [Our concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake district or Wales where walking was part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/our-concept-of-a-family-holiday-was-going-to-a-guest-house-in-the/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [Houses are like the human beings that inhabit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/houses-are-like-the-human-beings-that-inhabit-them/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [Then all this earth shines like one house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/then-all-this-earth-shines-like-one-house/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run away, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/she-d-read-once-that-if-you-ran-into-a-bear-in-the-woods-you-should/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [We were so poor as kids. I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [Perhaps the most important reason to be skeptical of government inflation numbers is that the government, like a fox campaigning to guard a hen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/perhaps-the-most-important-reason-to-be-skeptical-of-government/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [I didn't expect to be so comfortable handing my child off to a nanny without getting any of her information. As soon as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/i-didn-t-expect-to-be-so-comfortable-handing-my-child-off-to-a-nanny/) [Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/) > [I think of novels as houses. You live in them over the course of a long period, both as a reader and as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/i-think-of-novels-as-houses-you-live-in-them-over-the-course-of-a/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [Well this is aptly called a junket, for both of us. I have never been to a house of prostitution, but I understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/well-this-is-aptly-called-a-junket-for-both-of-us-i-have-never-been/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) [Browse all 14,318 House quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Safe upon the solid rock the ugly houses stand. 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