--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Twenty-three stories up and all I could…" description: "\"Twenty-three stories up and all I could see out the windows was grey smog. They could call it the City of the Angels if they wanted to, but if there we..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d7/laurell-k-hamilton-199_angel_twenty-three-stories-up-and-all-i-could_2372275.jpg" --- # Twenty-three stories up and all I could see out the… ![“Twenty-three stories up and all I could see out the windows was grey smog. They could call it the City of the Angels if they wanted to, but if there were angels out there, they had to be flying blind.” quote by Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d7/laurell-k-hamilton-199_angel_twenty-three-stories-up-and-all-i-could_2372275.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d7/laurell-k-hamilton-199_angel_twenty-three-stories-up-and-all-i-could_2372275.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d7/laurell-k-hamilton-199_angel_twenty-three-stories-up-and-all-i-could_2372275.jpg) > “Twenty-three stories up and all I could see out the windows was grey smog. They could call it the City of the Angels if they wanted to, but if there were angels out there, they had to be flying blind.” [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Urban smog obscures hope, suggesting even angels would be lost in a polluted city. **In simple terms:** Smog hides hope like blind angels. Key Takeaway Address environmental decay to restore optimism. Themes environment despair hope Mood somber reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - activism - writing - community projects - mindfulness Key Concepts urban decay spiritual metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How can you find clarity amid chaos? - What actions can improve your environment? A Different Perspective Hope can be fragile in toxic settings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) [Angels Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angels-flying-3640277/) [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [City Angels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city-angels-1060534/) [Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying/) [Flying Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying-blind-2211184/) [Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grey/) [Grey Smog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grey-smog-5846764/) [Smog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smog/) [Smog City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smog-city-5846763/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Window](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/window/) ## Related quotes > [Watch out from the window you could see angels are flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishant-grover/watch-out-from-the-window-you-could-see-angels-are-flying/) [Nishant Grover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishant-grover/) > [My body is sky and in my soul flocks of angels are flying, wings of joys, spring burdens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariana-fulger/my-body-is-sky-and-in-my-soul-flocks-of-angels-are-flying-wings-of/) [Mariana Fulger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariana-fulger/) > [L.A.: where there's never weather, and walking is a crime. L.A.: where the streetlights and palm trees go on forever, where darkness never comes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-shoales/l-a-where-there-s-never-weather-and-walking-is-a-crime-l-a-where-the/) [Ian Shoales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-shoales/) > [We need this city to actually live up to its name-The City of Angels. We need to spread our wings. We need to show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/we-need-this-city-to-actually-live-up-to-its-name-the-city-of-angels/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The City of Angels is a microcosm of the world, and so living in L.A. makes me feel like a citizen of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavis-smiley/the-city-of-angels-is-a-microcosm-of-the-world-and-so-living-in-l-a/) [Tavis Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavis-smiley/) > [“I have always loved the history of Los Angeles and Twilight in the City of Angels nails it. --Danny Trejo, actor”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-ahrens/i-have-always-loved-the-history-of-los-angeles-and-twilight-in-the/) [chris ahrens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-ahrens/) > [“Writing the musical City of Angels was a wonderful job I gave myself. I returned to my loves of swing music and black-and-white movies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-isenberg/writing-the-musical-city-of-angels-was-a-wonderful-job-i-gave-myself/) [Barbara Isenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-isenberg/) > [The city of angels? It's the city of devils. The city of smiling cobras.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-young/the-city-of-angels-it-s-the-city-of-devils-the-city-of-smiling-cobras/) [Sean Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-young/) > [“They sounded frantic; he imagined them driven into the night by a force stronger than hunger or love, flying blind, scared stiff but having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-humphreys/they-sounded-frantic-he-imagined-them-driven-into-the-night-by-a/) [Josephine Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-humphreys/) > [“Child, you're just flying blind, and it's okay. That's how life is, darlin'. We're all flying blind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-reene-singer/child-you-re-just-flying-blind-and-it-s-okay-that-s-how-life-is/) [Judy Reene Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-reene-singer/) > [“Who else had ever met the business-end of a bolt of lightning in mid-flight, as he had just now, flying blind through a storm,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornell-woolrich/who-else-had-ever-met-the-business-end-of-a-bolt-of-lightning-in-mid/) [Cornell Woolrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornell-woolrich/) > [“Type A Ellie liked to know the rules, like knowing what to expect. Flying blind made her nervous. He prepared to make her all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samanthe-beck/type-a-ellie-liked-to-know-the-rules-like-knowing-what-to-expect/) [Samanthe Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samanthe-beck/) > [“I know I messed up but I’m here for real now. We’re going to do this and I promise I’ll take care of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/i-know-i-messed-up-but-i-m-here-for-real-now-we-re-going-to-do-this/) [Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/) > [The larger the corporation, the greater the risk that you are flying blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dixon/the-larger-the-corporation-the-greater-the-risk-that-you-are-flying/) [Patrick Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dixon/) > [Sometimes I truly fear that I am losing my mind. And if I did it it would be like flying blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hughes/sometimes-i-truly-fear-that-i-am-losing-my-mind-and-if-i-did-it-it/) [Howard Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hughes/) ## More by Laurell K. Hamilton > [“Edward: I don't know whether to put my fingers in my ears and go la-la-la or find more of your guards so we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/edward-i-don-t-know-whether-to-put-my-fingers-in-my-ears-and-go-la-la/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [So many wonderful books to write, and not enough hours in the day. An embarrassment of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/so-many-wonderful-books-to-write-and-not-enough-hours-in-the-day-an/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Money doesn't spend in hell… The devil deals in a different coin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/money-doesn-t-spend-in-hell-the-devil-deals-in-a-different-coin/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [There comes a point when you either embrace who and what you are, or condemn yourself to be miserable all your days. Other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/there-comes-a-point-when-you-either-embrace-who-and-what-you-are-or/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I slowed, just a little, one to save energy, and one to let Russell catch up sooner. I took a big breath and prepared.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-slowed-just-a-little-one-to-save-energy-and-one-to-let-russell/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“It wasn't just my beast's hunger, but Jean-Claude's blood thirst and Richard's craving for flesh. It was all that and the ardeur running through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/it-wasn-t-just-my-beast-s-hunger-but-jean-claude-s-blood-thirst-and/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I know that look, Blake. You are a drowning woman, and the only way out is down the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-know-that-look-blake-you-are-a-drowning-woman-and-the-only-way-out/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“Just another day in my life. This was one of those days when I thought that maybe a new life, a different life, wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/just-another-day-in-my-life-this-was-one-of-those-days-when-i-thought/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“What is that old children’s rhyme, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’? Anyone who says that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/what-is-that-old-children-s-rhyme-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [...you don't need ghosts to be haunted. Memory does that just fine without any supernatural help at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/you-don-t-need-ghosts-to-be-haunted-memory-does-that-just-fine/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I hated missing the end of anything. I was always convinced that the bit I'd miss would be the best part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-hated-missing-the-end-of-anything-i-was-always-convinced-that-the/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [He made a small sigh, as he swallowed the first blood, then his mouth closed over my earlobe, mouth working at the wound, tongue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/he-made-a-small-sigh-as-he-swallowed-the-first-blood-then-his-mouth/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [He gave a small nod, and I smiled back, and that was it. He understood that I'd understood that he'd understood. It took us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/he-gave-a-small-nod-and-i-smiled-back-and-that-was-it-he-understood/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [ \[T\]hese last few days where I've moped around damn near depressed for real, because of people who do not exist. Not really. I can… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/t-hese-last-few-days-where-i-ve-moped-around-damn-near-depressed-for/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) [Explore all 921 Laurell K. Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) ## More Angel quotes > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [If I wer an angel,i would make all your wishes come true..but I'm only a girl a girl who loves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/if-i-wer-an-angel-i-would-make-all-your-wishes-come-true-but-i-m-only/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Behind my eyelids, I saw him dancing in spirals of coloured light, emerald, blue, and brilliant purple, enfolding him like the wings of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-hall/behind-my-eyelids-i-saw-him-dancing-in-spirals-of-coloured-light/) [Alexis Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-hall/) > [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I don't think people will ever forget I was an 'Angel,' anymore than they'll forget Sally Field was 'The Flying Nun.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-ladd/i-don-t-think-people-will-ever-forget-i-was-an-angel-anymore-than/) [Cheryl Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-ladd/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [I believe in UFOs, I believe in extraterrestrials, and I believe in angels. And maybe they'll protect all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-believe-in-ufos-i-believe-in-extraterrestrials-and-i-believe-in/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/sometimes-we-have-the-absolute-certainty-there-s-something-inside-us/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [You should never feel lonely, neglected, fearful, or defeated when you remember that there are the shining ones. They are watching with keen interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flower-a-newhouse/you-should-never-feel-lonely-neglected-fearful-or-defeated-when-you/) [Flower A. Newhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flower-a-newhouse/) > [Hark the herald angels sing, 'Glory to the new-born king.' Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wesley/hark-the-herald-angels-sing-glory-to-the-new-born-king-peace-on-earth/) [Charles Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wesley/) > [Man was created a little lower than the angels and has been getting a little lower ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/man-was-created-a-little-lower-than-the-angels-and-has-been-getting-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Mooner was walking around laying his hands on the cars, divining karma. "this is it", he said, standing by a small khaki-colored jeep."this car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/mooner-was-walking-around-laying-his-hands-on-the-cars-divining-karma/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) [Browse all 4,625 Angel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Twenty-three stories up and all I could see out the windows was grey smog. They could call it the City of the Angels if they wanted to, but if there were angels out there, they had to be flying blind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laurell K. 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