--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This fountain commemorates Luxembourg’s…" description: "\"“This fountain commemorates Luxembourg’s two national poets—Lentz and Dicks,’” Jeffrey reads. “That had to be a tough name to get through school with.”..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/kristopher-jansma-34482_books_this-fountain-commemorates-luxembourg-s_1221810.jpg" --- # This fountain commemorates Luxembourg’s two national… ![“This fountain commemorates Luxembourg’s two national poets—Lentz and Dicks,’” Jeffrey reads. “That had to be a tough name to get through school with.” I scowl slightly as Jeffrey reads on. “Mr. Lentz wrote the national motto. ‘Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sin’ . . . ‘We wish to remain what we are.’”…” quote by Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/kristopher-jansma-34482_books_this-fountain-commemorates-luxembourg-s_1221810.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/kristopher-jansma-34482_books_this-fountain-commemorates-luxembourg-s_1221810.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/kristopher-jansma-34482_books_this-fountain-commemorates-luxembourg-s_1221810.jpg) > ““This fountain commemorates Luxembourg’s two national poets—Lentz and Dicks,’” Jeffrey reads. “That had to be a tough name to get through school with.” I scowl slightly as Jeffrey reads on. “Mr. Lentz wrote the national motto. ‘Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sin’ . . . ‘We wish to remain what we are.’” It really explains this strange place, I think, as Jeffrey considers the fountain. The gargoyles, the old men, the cobblestones. Maybe it’s trying with all its might not to change in any way. Maybe Luxembourg is stuck, just like us." (from "The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards: A Novel (Ala Notable Books for Adults)" by Kristopher Jansma)”” [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) ## 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 reflects on Luxembourg’s cultural stagnation, using the fountain as a metaphor for resistance to change and the weight of tradition. **In simple terms:** Luxembourg seems stuck, mirroring personal inertia. Key Takeaway Recognize when tradition hinders growth. Themes culture stagnation identity change tradition Mood reflective nostalgic thoughtful Type literary observational philosophical When to use this quote - tourism - urban planning - personal reflection - historical preservation Key Concepts nationalism symbolism metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How does tradition shape your identity? - When is it okay to break from the past? A Different Perspective Change may be necessary for vitality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Luxembourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luxembourg/) [Old men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-men/) ## Related quotes > [Maybe in Luxembourg there's a need for new immigration, but in Italy, there's a need to help people have children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-salvini/maybe-in-luxembourg-there-s-a-need-for-new-immigration-but-in-italy/) [Matteo Salvini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-salvini/) > [“The travel sites all describe Luxembourg as a fairy tale come to life, but it feels less like a Grimm land of trolls and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/the-travel-sites-all-describe-luxembourg-as-a-fairy-tale-come-to-life/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [“though the antique Luxembourg Gardens suit me better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/though-the-antique-luxembourg-gardens-suit-me-better/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Luxembourg is the first adopter in Europe of a legal and regulatory framework recognizing that space resources are capable of being owned by private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-schneider/luxembourg-is-the-first-adopter-in-europe-of-a-legal-and-regulatory/) [Etienne Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-schneider/) > [“Luxembourg was at first a castle, then a fortified city, and eventually a mighty fortress. It didn't become an open city until 1867 when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolibois/luxembourg-was-at-first-a-castle-then-a-fortified-city-and-eventually/) John Dolibois > [I grew up around the Luxembourg Gardens, so I guess that is my best memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-seigner/i-grew-up-around-the-luxembourg-gardens-so-i-guess-that-is-my-best/) [Emmanuelle Seigner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-seigner/) > [“the "Circuits Auto Pédeste" for which Luxembourg is noted. It is a network of 142 well-marked and well-maintained trails that covers the whole country.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dolibois/the-circuits-auto-p-deste-for-which-luxembourg-is-noted-it-is-a/) John Dolibois > [I have confidence that the government of Luxembourg will not make any decision that frustrates this transaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakshmi-mittal/i-have-confidence-that-the-government-of-luxembourg-will-not-make-any/) [Lakshmi Mittal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lakshmi-mittal/) > [Luxembourg has always been a country that has tried to reinvent its own future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-schneider/luxembourg-has-always-been-a-country-that-has-tried-to-reinvent-its/) [Etienne Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-schneider/) > [I now work for a finance company in Luxembourg with projects in South America and the Caribbean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathias-rust/i-now-work-for-a-finance-company-in-luxembourg-with-projects-in-south/) [Mathias Rust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathias-rust/) > [The Luxembourg financial centre is based on several pillars, we are characterised by the breadth of our product range, we are an active participant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-juncker/the-luxembourg-financial-centre-is-based-on-several-pillars-we-are/) [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-juncker/) > [“As Jean-Claude Juncker, then prime minister of Luxembourg and later president of the European Commission, once said, ‘When it becomes serious, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanis-varoufakis/as-jean-claude-juncker-then-prime-minister-of-luxembourg-and-later/) [Yanis Varoufakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanis-varoufakis/) > [“If the eurozone collapses, its epitaph should be the words of Jean-Claude Juncker, the former prime minister of Luxembourg, in 2007: “We all know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-micklethwait/if-the-eurozone-collapses-its-epitaph-should-be-the-words-of-jean/) [John Micklethwait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-micklethwait/) > [Luxembourg is such a small country that we always have to reinvent ourselves and take on a certain risk to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-schneider/luxembourg-is-such-a-small-country-that-we-always-have-to-reinvent/) [Etienne Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-schneider/) > [Luxembourg has a track record of being successful when it takes risks. You need to take on risks to be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etienne-schneider/luxembourg-has-a-track-record-of-being-successful-when-it-takes-risks/) [Etienne Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etienne-schneider/) ## More by Kristopher Jansma > [“The best thing to do—usually—was to let him play these things out. Who was I to tell a genius it was time to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/the-best-thing-to-do-usually-was-to-let-him-play-these-things-out-who/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [“Each time it goes around a little bit, a second goes away.” “Where?” I asked, as the pendulum swung again. And again. He winked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/each-time-it-goes-around-a-little-bit-a-second-goes-away-where-i/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [“After I charge their brains with my own brand of skeptical electricity, I unleash them—the New Cynics—upon a world that is slowly and happily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/after-i-charge-their-brains-with-my-own-brand-of-skeptical/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [“We couldn’t stop following the news. Every ten seconds we refreshed our browsers and gawked at the headlines. Dully we read blogs of friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/we-couldn-t-stop-following-the-news-every-ten-seconds-we-refreshed/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [“Does it sting like this because I've been robbed or because it was never mine to steal? ... Maybe an idea, like love, cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/does-it-sting-like-this-because-i-ve-been-robbed-or-because-it-was/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [“Everything I write is for her; none of it is ever good enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/everything-i-write-is-for-her-none-of-it-is-ever-good-enough/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [“The travel sites all describe Luxembourg as a fairy tale come to life, but it feels less like a Grimm land of trolls and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/the-travel-sites-all-describe-luxembourg-as-a-fairy-tale-come-to-life/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [“He extends a hand, larger than a dinner plate, and I have no choice but to shake it. I think I can feel my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/he-extends-a-hand-larger-than-a-dinner-plate-and-i-have-no-choice-but/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [“We came to the city because we wished to live haphazardly, to reach for only the least realistic of our desires, and to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/we-came-to-the-city-because-we-wished-to-live-haphazardly-to-reach/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [“She’s just this character to you. Both of us are! And we always have been. You don’t know what goes on in our heads.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/she-s-just-this-character-to-you-both-of-us-are-and-we-always-have/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [“the world.” Jeffrey just shakes his head. “You don’t know what it was like. You weren’t there when things got really bad. That Haslett…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/the-world-jeffrey-just-shakes-his-head-you-don-t-know-what-it-was/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [“Evelyn was followed in by a sour-faced woman with long, glamorous dark hair and a stern-looking gentleman in a tuxedo who looked just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/evelyn-was-followed-in-by-a-sour-faced-woman-with-long-glamorous-dark/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [“And for this imperfect immortality, what prices have been paid? How many livers, lungs, and veins? Shredded, polluted, shot? How many children deserted, family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/and-for-this-imperfect-immortality-what-prices-have-been-paid-how/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) [Explore all 14 Kristopher Jansma quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This fountain commemorates Luxembourg’s two national poets—Lentz and Dicks,’” Jeffrey reads. “That had to be a tough name to get through school with.” I scowl slightly as Jeffrey reads on. “Mr. Lentz wrote the national motto. ‘Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sin’ . . . ‘We wish to remain what we are.’” It really explains this strange place, I think, as Jeffrey considers the fountain. The gargoyles, the old men, the cobblestones. Maybe it’s trying with all its might not to change in any way. Maybe Luxembourg is stuck, just like us.\" (from \"The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards: A Novel (Ala Notable Books for Adults)\" by Kristopher Jansma)”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kristopher Jansma" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/this-fountain-commemorates-luxembourg-s-two-national-poets-lentz-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/this-fountain-commemorates-luxembourg-s-two-national-poets-lentz-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/kristopher-jansma-34482_books_this-fountain-commemorates-luxembourg-s_1221810.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/kristopher-jansma-34482_books_this-fountain-commemorates-luxembourg-s_1221810.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/kristopher-jansma-34482_books_this-fountain-commemorates-luxembourg-s_1221810.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This fountain commemorates Luxembourg’s two national poets—Lentz and Dicks,’” Jeffrey reads. “That had to be…” — Kristopher Jansma", "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": "Kristopher Jansma", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“This fountain commemorates Luxembourg’s two national...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/this-fountain-commemorates-luxembourg-s-two-national-poets-lentz-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/this-fountain-commemorates-luxembourg-s-two-national-poets-lentz-and/#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 } } ] } ```