--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men come and go, cities rise and fall…" description: "\"Men come and go, cities rise and fall, whole civilizations appear and disappear-the earth remains, slightly modified. The earth remains, and the heartb..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/edward-abbey-254_break_men-come-and-go-cities-rise-and-fall-who_1938339.png" --- # Men come and go, cities rise and fall, whole civilizations… ![“Men come and go, cities rise and fall, whole civilizations appear and disappear-the earth remains, slightly modified. The earth remains, and the heartbreaking beauty where there are no hearts to break…I sometimes choose to think, no doubt perversely, that man is a dream, thought an illusion, and…” quote by Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/edward-abbey-254_break_men-come-and-go-cities-rise-and-fall-who_1938339.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/edward-abbey-254_break_men-come-and-go-cities-rise-and-fall-who_1938339.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b83/edward-abbey-254_break_men-come-and-go-cities-rise-and-fall-who_1938339.png) > “Men come and go, cities rise and fall, whole civilizations appear and disappear-the earth remains, slightly modified. The earth remains, and the heartbreaking beauty where there are no hearts to break…I sometimes choose to think, no doubt perversely, that man is a dream, thought an illusion, and only rock is real. Rock and sun.” [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human existence is fleeting compared to the enduring, indifferent planet, suggesting that only the physical world is truly real. **In simple terms:** Life is temporary; Earth endures. Key Takeaway Focus on the lasting over the fleeting. Themes impermanence nature existentialism Mood reflective melancholic Type philosophical existential When to use this quote - urban planning - environmental activism - personal reflection - creative writing Key Concepts philosophy geology psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does permanence mean to you? - How do you balance human aspirations with nature’s constancy? A Different Perspective The view may overlook human meaning and cultural value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Comes and goes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comes-and-goes/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Heartbreaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heartbreaking/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Rise and fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rise-and-fall/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“Men come and go, cities rise and fall, whole civilizations appear and disappear—the earth remains, slightly modified. 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The present generation of children and the present generation of young adults from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-caldwell/the-nature-of-human-beings-never-changes-it-is-immutable-the-present/) [Taylor Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-caldwell/) > [Never again will I make the simple into the complex. Something of true value does not become more valuable because it becomes complicated. Experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-curtis/never-again-will-i-make-the-simple-into-the-complex-something-of-true/) [Donald Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-curtis/) > [“Does sound have rhythm? Does it rise and fall like the ocean? Does sound come and go like wind?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-uhlberg/does-sound-have-rhythm-does-it-rise-and-fall-like-the-ocean-does/) Myron Uhlberg > [The nature of human beings never changes; it is immutable. 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