--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Circles in water as they wider flow The…" description: "\"Circles in water as they wider flow The less conspicuous in their progress grow, And when at last they trench upon the shore, Distinction ceases and th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/george-crabbe-7525_cease_circles-in-water-as-they-wider-flow-the_1903191.png" --- # Circles in water as they wider flow The less conspicuous… ![“Circles in water as they wider flow The less conspicuous in their progress grow, And when at last they trench upon the shore, Distinction ceases and they're view'd no more.” quote by George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/george-crabbe-7525_cease_circles-in-water-as-they-wider-flow-the_1903191.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/george-crabbe-7525_cease_circles-in-water-as-they-wider-flow-the_1903191.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/george-crabbe-7525_cease_circles-in-water-as-they-wider-flow-the_1903191.png) > “Circles in water as they wider flow The less conspicuous in their progress grow, And when at last they trench upon the shore, Distinction ceases and they're view'd no more.” [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Natural forces subtly shape progress, eventually merging into the larger whole, losing distinct identity. **In simple terms:** Rivers blend into the sea, losing distinction. Key Takeaway Accept change and unity. Themes nature change identity philosophy flow Mood contemplative poetic philosophical Type literary metaphorical When to use this quote - river management - environmental policy - personal growth - spiritual practice Key Concepts metaphor ecology continuity Questions to Reflect On - What does losing distinctness mean to you? - How can we balance individuality with unity? A Different Perspective May overlook loss of individuality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circles/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Flow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flow/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Trenches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trenches/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [I go among trees and sit still. All my stirring becomes quiet around me like circles on water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/i-go-among-trees-and-sit-still-all-my-stirring-becomes-quiet-around-2/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The language of distinction ceases to be available; is no longer available. We must search CD Rom for meanings which once were clear, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/the-language-of-distinction-ceases-to-be-available-is-no-longer/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [I would lie here in the trenches with your picture next to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sean/i-would-lie-here-in-the-trenches-with-your-picture-next-to-me/) [Jay Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sean/) > [The war is between us and the Jews. Any country that steps into the same trench as the Jews has only itself to blame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-bin-laden/the-war-is-between-us-and-the-jews-any-country-that-steps-into-the/) [Osama bin Laden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-bin-laden/) > [Well, I thought, climbing slowly out of the slit trench, the shells will catch us above ground now. But if you have to go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kenyon-webster/well-i-thought-climbing-slowly-out-of-the-slit-trench-the-shells-will/) [David Kenyon Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kenyon-webster/) > [Paying to teach in the trenches was like putting my face through a cutout hole at a carnival while a quarterback threw pies at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-gruwell/paying-to-teach-in-the-trenches-was-like-putting-my-face-through-a/) [Erin Gruwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-gruwell/) > [“We have first seized the front line of trenches, then the second and the third, and our adversary, shut up in his retreat, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corneliu-zelea-codreanu/we-have-first-seized-the-front-line-of-trenches-then-the-second-and/) [Corneliu Zelea Codreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corneliu-zelea-codreanu/) > [Media over here, coming to ya like a world premiere. Trench coat and my underwear, let's go with this freak show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/media-over-here-coming-to-ya-like-a-world-premiere-trench-coat-and-my/) [Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/) > [India lives in several centuries at the same time. Every night outside my house I pass a road gang of emaciated laborers digging a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/india-lives-in-several-centuries-at-the-same-time-every-night-outside/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“In my mind, I could sense their roots under the soil, creeping in helical tangles of ever-increasing complexity outward and in all directions—out beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/in-my-mind-i-could-sense-their-roots-under-the-soil-creeping-in/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [If the head man in a company is not working 12 hours a day, doing things, taking risks, but also standing with his people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/if-the-head-man-in-a-company-is-not-working-12-hours-a-day-doing/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [I’ve always been a sort of self-imposed outsider, not a geeky outsider or a snobby outsider but, I just have a natural desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-quin/i-ve-always-been-a-sort-of-self-imposed-outsider-not-a-geeky-outsider/) [Sara Quin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-quin/) > [When I joined the Army in the late '70s, there was a real threat from Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, so all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-strawbridge/when-i-joined-the-army-in-the-late-70s-there-was-a-real-threat-from/) [Dick Strawbridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-strawbridge/) > [I realize that my opinion is my opinion, not everybody has to believe it and I never tried to shove anything down anyone's throat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-finkelstein/i-realize-that-my-opinion-is-my-opinion-not-everybody-has-to-believe/) [Bernie Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-finkelstein/) > [ I always resented Tom \[Hardy\] for turning up on Band Of Brothers and getting the girl — in fact, the only girl in a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-lewis/i-always-resented-tom-hardy-for-turning-up-on-band-of-brothers-and/) [Damian Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-lewis/) ## More by George Crabbe > [In general satire, every man perceives A slight attack, yet neither fears nor grieves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/in-general-satire-every-man-perceives-a-slight-attack-yet-neither/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > ['T was good advice, and meant, my son, Be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/t-was-good-advice-and-meant-my-son-be-good/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [Who calls a lawyer rogue, may find, too lateUpon one of these depends his whole estate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/who-calls-a-lawyer-rogue-may-find-too-lateupon-one-of-these-depends/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [With eye upraised his master's looks to scan, The joy, the solace, and the aid of man; The rich man's guardian, and the poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/with-eye-upraised-his-master-s-looks-to-scan-the-joy-the-solace-and/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [In her experience all her friends relied, Heaven was her help and nature was her guide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/in-her-experience-all-her-friends-relied-heaven-was-her-help-and/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [He tried the luxury of doing good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/he-tried-the-luxury-of-doing-good/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [What is a church? Let Truth and reason speak, They would reply, "The faithful, pure and meek, From Christian folds, the one selected race,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/what-is-a-church-let-truth-and-reason-speak-they-would-reply-the/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [Ability comprehends the power of doing in general, without specifying the quality or degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/ability-comprehends-the-power-of-doing-in-general-without-specifying/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [Impertinence will intermeddle in things in which it has no concern, showing a want of breeding, or, more commonly, a spirit of sheer impudence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/impertinence-will-intermeddle-in-things-in-which-it-has-no-concern/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [Life is not measured by the time we live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/life-is-not-measured-by-the-time-we-live/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [Void of all honor, avaricious, rash, The daring tribe compound their boasted trash Tincture of syrup, lotion, drop, or pill; All tempt the sick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/void-of-all-honor-avaricious-rash-the-daring-tribe-compound-their/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [Arrogance is the act of the great; presumption that of the little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/arrogance-is-the-act-of-the-great-presumption-that-of-the-little/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [From powerful causes spring the empiric's gains, Man's love of life, his weakness, and his pains; These first induce him the vile trash to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/from-powerful-causes-spring-the-empiric-s-gains-man-s-love-of-life/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [I grant indeed that fields and flocks have charms, For him that gazes or for him that farms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/i-grant-indeed-that-fields-and-flocks-have-charms-for-him-that-gazes/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [The coward never on himself relies, But to an equal for assistance flies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/the-coward-never-on-himself-relies-but-to-an-equal-for-assistance/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) [Explore all 90 George Crabbe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) ## More Cease quotes > [So long as we fear the outside world, we must cease to think of Swaraj.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/so-long-as-we-fear-the-outside-world-we-must-cease-to-think-of-swaraj/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [In the name of Jerusalem. If I forget the extermination of the Jews, may my right hand wither, may my tongue stick to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/in-the-name-of-jerusalem-if-i-forget-the-extermination-of-the-jews/) [Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/) > [But if you will recall the history of our civil troubles, you will see half the nation bathe itself, out of piety, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/but-if-you-will-recall-the-history-of-our-civil-troubles-you-will-see/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Metallica's the only band i've ever been in. I'm not sure that when it ends in five, ten years, I'm going to put an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/metallica-s-the-only-band-i-ve-ever-been-in-i-m-not-sure-that-when-it/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) Nicholas Roerich > [Without a function, we cease to be. So, I will write till I die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farley-mowat/without-a-function-we-cease-to-be-so-i-will-write-till-i-die/) [Farley Mowat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farley-mowat/) > [We have won an armistice on a single battlefield, not peace in our world. We may not now relax our guard nor cease our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/we-have-won-an-armistice-on-a-single-battlefield-not-peace-in-our/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [My child, seek those things which make for peace. Cease to stir up the King against the Church, and urge upon him a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-child-seek-those-things-which-make-for-peace-cease-to-stir-up-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To write is to make oneself the echo of what cannot cease speaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/to-write-is-to-make-oneself-the-echo-of-what-cannot-cease-speaking/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [Were the life of man prolonged, he would become such a proficient in villainy, that it would become necessary again to drown or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/were-the-life-of-man-prolonged-he-would-become-such-a-proficient-in/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [When fear ceases to scare you, it cannot stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/when-fear-ceases-to-scare-you-it-cannot-stay/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [He who ceases to pray ceases to prosper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurney-benham/he-who-ceases-to-pray-ceases-to-prosper/) [William Gurney Benham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurney-benham/) > [For we must share, if we would keep, that blessing from above; ceasing to give, we cease to have; such is the law of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chenevix-trench/for-we-must-share-if-we-would-keep-that-blessing-from-above-ceasing/) [Richard Chenevix Trench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chenevix-trench/) > [When men are unhappy, they do not imagine they can ever cease to be so; and when some calamity has fallen on them, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/when-men-are-unhappy-they-do-not-imagine-they-can-ever-cease-to-be-so/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) Browse all 1,358 Cease quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Circles in water as they wider flow The less conspicuous in their progress grow, And when at last they trench upon the shore, Distinction ceases and they're view'd no more.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Crabbe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/circles-in-water-as-they-wider-flow-the-less-conspicuous-in-their/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cease" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/circles-in-water-as-they-wider-flow-the-less-conspicuous-in-their/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/george-crabbe-7525_cease_circles-in-water-as-they-wider-flow-the_1903191.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/george-crabbe-7525_cease_circles-in-water-as-they-wider-flow-the_1903191.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/george-crabbe-7525_cease_circles-in-water-as-they-wider-flow-the_1903191.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Circles in water as they wider flow The less conspicuous in their progress grow, And when at last they…” — George Crabbe", "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": "George Crabbe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Circles in water as they wider...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/circles-in-water-as-they-wider-flow-the-less-conspicuous-in-their/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/circles-in-water-as-they-wider-flow-the-less-conspicuous-in-their/#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 } } ] } ```