--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How still, How strangely still The water…" description: "\"How still, How strangely still The water is today, It is not good For water To be so still that way. ~ \"Sea Calm\" — Langston Hughes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/langston-hughes-1527_calm_how-still-how-strangely-still-the-water_2312036.png" --- # How still, How strangely still The water is today, It is… ![“How still, How strangely still The water is today, It is not good For water To be so still that way. ~ "Sea Calm” quote by Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/langston-hughes-1527_calm_how-still-how-strangely-still-the-water_2312036.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/langston-hughes-1527_calm_how-still-how-strangely-still-the-water_2312036.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/langston-hughes-1527_calm_how-still-how-strangely-still-the-water_2312036.png) > “How still, How strangely still The water is today, It is not good For water To be so still that way. ~ "Sea Calm” [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Still water can be unsettling, implying that excessive calm may hide underlying tension. **In simple terms:** Too much stillness feels uneasy. Key Takeaway Seek healthy movement and change. Themes nature calm unease balance reflection Mood contemplative uneasy Type poetic reflective When to use this quote - meditation - stress management - creative blocks - environmental design Key Concepts psychology of stillness environmental metaphor Questions to Reflect On - When does calm become harmful? - How can you introduce dynamic flow? A Different Perspective Stillness can become stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [Even in the middle of a hurricane, the bottom of the sea is calm. As the storm rages and the winds howl, the deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-muller/even-in-the-middle-of-a-hurricane-the-bottom-of-the-sea-is-calm-as/) [Wayne Muller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-muller/) > [Can't leave the house without water. I'm good on that. Water's good for the skin, it's good for the body. It's great, it's good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moneybagg-yo/can-t-leave-the-house-without-water-i-m-good-on-that-water-s-good-for/) [Moneybagg Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moneybagg-yo/) > [“Higher good is like water: the good in water benefits all, and does so without contention. It rests where people dislike to be, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi-dao-de-jing/higher-good-is-like-water-the-good-in-water-benefits-all-and-does-so/) Laozi Dao De Jing > [Pure air, good water, sunshine, the beautiful surroundings of nature...these are God's means for restoring the sick to health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/pure-air-good-water-sunshine-the-beautiful-surroundings-of-nature/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [Good water, we need water, and maybe somebody's daughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-who/good-water-we-need-water-and-maybe-somebody-s-daughter/) [The Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-who/) > [No good water comes from a muddy spring. No sweet fruit comes from a bitter seed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-rizal/no-good-water-comes-from-a-muddy-spring-no-sweet-fruit-comes-from-a/) [Jose Rizal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-rizal/) > [“You want more water, Aisling? You need more water, yes? I saw you use the water I bring you earlier. It is good. Here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-macalister/you-want-more-water-aisling-you-need-more-water-yes-i-saw-you-use-the/) [Katie MacAlister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-macalister/) > [You have a choice. Either you can have more oil, or more clean water. Fracking is not good for the water supply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/you-have-a-choice-either-you-can-have-more-oil-or-more-clean-water/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [When the sea was calm all ships alike showed mastership in floating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/when-the-sea-was-calm-all-ships-alike-showed-mastership-in-floating/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Anybody can pilot a ship when the sea is calm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/navjot-singh-sidhu/anybody-can-pilot-a-ship-when-the-sea-is-calm/) [Navjot Singh Sidhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/navjot-singh-sidhu/) > [“Everything sooner or later gets tired! A stormy sea gets tired and becomes a calm sea; a calm sea too gets tired and becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/everything-sooner-or-later-gets-tired-a-stormy-sea-gets-tired-and/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Everyone can hold the helm when sea is calm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-can-hold-the-helm-when-sea-is-calm/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The bottom of the soul may be in repose, even while we are in many outward troubles; just as the bottom of the sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/the-bottom-of-the-soul-may-be-in-repose-even-while-we-are-in-many/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [What though the sea be calm? trust to the shore, Ships have been drown'd, where late they danc'd before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/what-though-the-sea-be-calm-trust-to-the-shore-ships-have-been-drown/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) > [Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/anyone-can-hold-the-helm-when-the-sea-is-calm/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## More by Langston Hughes > [Good morning, daddy! Ain't you heard The boogie-woogie rumble Of a dream deferred? • • • • You think It's a happy beat?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/good-morning-daddy-ain-t-you-heard-the-boogie-woogie-rumble-of-a/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [Summer was made to give you a taste of what hell is like. Winter was made for landladies to charge high rents and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/summer-was-made-to-give-you-a-taste-of-what-hell-is-like-winter-was/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [I was a victim of a stereotype. There were only two of us Negro kids in the whole class, and our English teacher was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/i-was-a-victim-of-a-stereotype-there-were-only-two-of-us-negro-kids/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [I am the American heartbreak- The rock on which Freedom Stumped its toe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/i-am-the-american-heartbreak-the-rock-on-which-freedom-stumped-its-toe/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [“As I Grew Older" It was a long time ago. I have almost forgotten my dream. But it was there then, In front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/as-i-grew-older-it-was-a-long-time-ago-i-have-almost-forgotten-my/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [Words Like Freedom There are words like Freedom Sweet and wonderful to say. On my heartstrings freedom sings All day everyday. There are words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/words-like-freedom-there-are-words-like-freedom-sweet-and-wonderful/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [Beauty for some provides escape, who gain a happiness in eyeing the gorgeous buttocks of the ape or Autumn sunsets exquisitely dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/beauty-for-some-provides-escape-who-gain-a-happiness-in-eyeing-the/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [“In America the magazines in which one can frequently publish stories or poems about Negroes are very few, and most of these do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/in-america-the-magazines-in-which-one-can-frequently-publish-stories/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [Perhaps the mission of an artist is to interpret beauty to people - the beauty within themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/perhaps-the-mission-of-an-artist-is-to-interpret-beauty-to-people-the/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [Negro writers, just by being black, have been on the blacklist all our lives. Do you know that there are libraries in our country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/negro-writers-just-by-being-black-have-been-on-the-blacklist-all-our/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [We Negro writers, just by being black, have been on the blacklist all our lives. Censorship for us begins at the color line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/we-negro-writers-just-by-being-black-have-been-on-the-blacklist-all/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [“Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die life is a broken-winged bird that can not fly. Hold fast to dreams for when dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/hold-fast-to-dreams-for-if-dreams-die-life-is-a-broken-winged-bird/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [Oh, God of Dust and Rainbows, Help us to see That without the dust the rainbow Would not be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/oh-god-of-dust-and-rainbows-help-us-to-see-that-without-the-dust-the/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [I loved my friend He went away from me There's nothing more to say The poem ends, Soft as it began- I loved my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/i-loved-my-friend-he-went-away-from-me-there-s-nothing-more-to-say/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [The Jewish people and the Negro people both know the meaning of Nordic supremacy. We have both looked into the eyes of terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/the-jewish-people-and-the-negro-people-both-know-the-meaning-of/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) [Explore all 230 Langston Hughes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) ## More Calm quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“After the storm, reigns the calm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simdi-onuora/after-the-storm-reigns-the-calm/) Simdi Onuora > [So mightiest powers buy deepest calms are fed, And sleep, how oft, in things that gentlest be!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-procter/so-mightiest-powers-buy-deepest-calms-are-fed-and-sleep-how-oft-in/) [Bryan Procter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-procter/) > [KEEP CALM and HAVE A SUGAR CUBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/keep-calm-and-have-a-sugar-cube/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [To practice Aikido fully you must calm the spirit and go back to the origin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/to-practice-aikido-fully-you-must-calm-the-spirit-and-go-back-to-the/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages, only then will Israel be calm for the next 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ben-ari/the-goal-of-the-operation-is-to-send-gaza-back-to-the-middle-ages/) Michael Ben-Ari > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [When I was a child I truly loved: Unthinking love as calm and deep As the North Sea. But I have lived, And now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/when-i-was-a-child-i-truly-loved-unthinking-love-as-calm-and-deep-as/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [~Keep Calm and Swagger On~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/keep-calm-and-swagger-on/) Im Nothing > [Ride your horse calm, forward and then make him straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-zettl/ride-your-horse-calm-forward-and-then-make-him-straight/) [Walter Zettl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-zettl/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) [Browse all 3,074 Calm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How still, How strangely still The water is today, It is not good For water To be so still that way. ~ \"Sea Calm", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Langston Hughes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/how-still-how-strangely-still-the-water-is-today-it-is-not-good-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Calm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/how-still-how-strangely-still-the-water-is-today-it-is-not-good-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/langston-hughes-1527_calm_how-still-how-strangely-still-the-water_2312036.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/langston-hughes-1527_calm_how-still-how-strangely-still-the-water_2312036.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0b/langston-hughes-1527_calm_how-still-how-strangely-still-the-water_2312036.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How still, How strangely still The water is today, It is not good For water To be so still that way. ~ \"Sea…” — Langston Hughes", "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": "Langston Hughes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "How still, How strangely still The...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/how-still-how-strangely-still-the-water-is-today-it-is-not-good-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/how-still-how-strangely-still-the-water-is-today-it-is-not-good-for/#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 } } ] } ```