--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The strange thing about ships is despite…" description: "\"“The strange thing about ships is despite them being crowded and stinky and at the mercy of Nature, most times they are like wooden islands of freedom,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/louis-nowra-50557_freedom_the-strange-thing-about-ships-is-despite_2216054.jpg" --- # The strange thing about ships is despite them being… ![“The strange thing about ships is despite them being crowded and stinky and at the mercy of Nature, most times they are like wooden islands of freedom, free from petty concerns and the laws of the land.” quote by Louis Nowra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/louis-nowra-50557_freedom_the-strange-thing-about-ships-is-despite_2216054.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/louis-nowra-50557_freedom_the-strange-thing-about-ships-is-despite_2216054.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/louis-nowra-50557_freedom_the-strange-thing-about-ships-is-despite_2216054.jpg) > ““The strange thing about ships is despite them being crowded and stinky and at the mercy of Nature, most times they are like wooden islands of freedom, free from petty concerns and the laws of the land.”” [Louis Nowra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-nowra/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ships, despite harsh conditions, become temporary sanctuaries where ordinary rules fade, offering a sense of freedom. **In simple terms:** Ships feel like islands of freedom amid chaos. Key Takeaway Seek moments of freedom even in crowded spaces. Themes freedom community escape Mood reflective adventurous Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - travel - crowded events - team projects Key Concepts isolation temporary sanctuary collective experience Questions to Reflect On - How do you find freedom in constrained environments? - What rules do you let go of on a ship? A Different Perspective Freedom on ships is limited by external forces. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crowded Stinky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowded-stinky-4926895/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Islands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islands/) [Islands Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islands-freedom-4926894/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Ships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ships/) [Wooden Islands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wooden-islands-4926893/) ## Related quotes > [We used two Princess Cruise ships. The Island Princess and The Pacific Princess. They were identical ships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-macleod/we-used-two-princess-cruise-ships-the-island-princess-and-the-pacific/) [Gavin MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-macleod/) > [Begin with loss and see how the world contradicts you, how the horizon implies that beyond it the water is not empty but full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-emanuel/begin-with-loss-and-see-how-the-world-contradicts-you-how-the-horizon/) [Lynn Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-emanuel/) > [A ship's engine far away on the water expands the summer-night horizon. Both joy and sorrow swell in the dew's magnifying glass. Without really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomas-transtromer/a-ship-s-engine-far-away-on-the-water-expands-the-summer-night/) [Tomas Transtromer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomas-transtromer/) > [Pirate Hunters is a fantastic book, an utterly engrossing and satisfying read. It tells the story of the hunt for the rare wreck of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-preston/pirate-hunters-is-a-fantastic-book-an-utterly-engrossing-and/) [Douglas Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-preston/) > [When the ship is sinking and you're forced to choose sides, the new solution is to jump from island to island to island. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shia-labeouf/when-the-ship-is-sinking-and-you-re-forced-to-choose-sides-the-new/) [Shia LaBeouf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shia-labeouf/) > [A man sets out to draw the world. As the years go by, he peoples a space with images of provinces, kingdoms, mountains, bays,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/a-man-sets-out-to-draw-the-world-as-the-years-go-by-he-peoples-a/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [In the infancy of civilization, when our island was as savage as New Guinea, when letters and arts were still unknown to Athens, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/in-the-infancy-of-civilization-when-our-island-was-as-savage-as-new/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Water is the formless potential out of which creation emerged. It is the ocean of unconsciousness enveloping the islands of consciousness. Water bathes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-sanders/water-is-the-formless-potential-out-of-which-creation-emerged-it-is/) [Scott Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-sanders/) > [Consider the islands bearing the names of all the saints, bristling with forts like chestnut-burs, or Echinidæ, yet the police will not let a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/consider-the-islands-bearing-the-names-of-all-the-saints-bristling/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [There are times when the ocean is not the ocean - not blue, not even water, but some violent explosion of energy and danger:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-times-when-the-ocean-is-not-the-ocean-not-blue-not-even/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I always like to look for adventure when I go away. I have gone on several horse adventures with my wife - from Guangxi…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-gormley/i-always-like-to-look-for-adventure-when-i-go-away-i-have-gone-on/) [Antony Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-gormley/) > [I was very moved to see that the name of the boat was Hamlet - an imaginary character becomes so important to people, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/i-was-very-moved-to-see-that-the-name-of-the-boat-was-hamlet-an/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [Only one ship is seeking us, a black-Sailed unfamiliar, towing at her backA huge and birdless silence. In her wakeNo waters breed or break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/only-one-ship-is-seeking-us-a-black-sailed-unfamiliar-towing-at-her/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [In the road ships must ride in 30, 40, or 50 fathom water, not above half a mile from the shore at farthest: and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-dampier/in-the-road-ships-must-ride-in-30-40-or-50-fathom-water-not-above/) [William Dampier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-dampier/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More by Louis Nowra > [“Where were me parents? Where were Becky? I felt so alone, so lost that I could not see. By that I mean, everything round…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-nowra/where-were-me-parents-where-were-becky-i-felt-so-alone-so-lost-that-i/) [Louis Nowra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-nowra/) > [“…a wolf creature with yellow fur and black stripes. It were about the size of a real large dog. I can remember it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-nowra/a-wolf-creature-with-yellow-fur-and-black-stripes-it-were-about-the/) [Louis Nowra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-nowra/) > [“Ernie thought—what’s the expression?—that he had a couple of kangaroos loose in the top paddock.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-nowra/ernie-thought-what-s-the-expression-that-he-had-a-couple-of-kangaroos/) [Louis Nowra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-nowra/) > [“I've always thought that love was being foolish and stupid. It's about being on the edge and I like being on the edge. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-nowra/i-ve-always-thought-that-love-was-being-foolish-and-stupid-it-s-about/) [Louis Nowra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-nowra/) > [“It’s the body and eyes that tell what a person is thinking or going to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-nowra/it-s-the-body-and-eyes-that-tell-what-a-person-is-thinking-or-going/) [Louis Nowra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-nowra/) > [“It were the sort of mist that soaked into your flesh, into your being, so it were like you were one with it...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-nowra/it-were-the-sort-of-mist-that-soaked-into-your-flesh-into-your-being/) [Louis Nowra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-nowra/) [Explore all 7 Louis Nowra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-nowra/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The strange thing about ships is despite them being crowded and stinky and at the mercy of Nature, most times they are like wooden islands of freedom, free from petty concerns and the laws of the land.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louis Nowra" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-nowra/the-strange-thing-about-ships-is-despite-them-being-crowded-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Freedom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-nowra/the-strange-thing-about-ships-is-despite-them-being-crowded-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/louis-nowra-50557_freedom_the-strange-thing-about-ships-is-despite_2216054.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/louis-nowra-50557_freedom_the-strange-thing-about-ships-is-despite_2216054.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/louis-nowra-50557_freedom_the-strange-thing-about-ships-is-despite_2216054.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The strange thing about ships is despite them being crowded and stinky and at the mercy of Nature, most…” — Louis Nowra", "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": "Louis Nowra", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-nowra/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The strange thing about ships is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-nowra/the-strange-thing-about-ships-is-despite-them-being-crowded-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-nowra/the-strange-thing-about-ships-is-despite-them-being-crowded-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 } } ] } ```