--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Across the valley, a waterfall stumbles…" description: "\"“Across the valley, a waterfall stumbles down. In a month or two the really hard rains will come down for eighteen hours a day and that waterfall will ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/michael-ondaatje-940_inspirational_across-the-valley-a-waterfall-stumbles-d_3116385.png" --- # Across the valley, a waterfall stumbles down. In a month… ![“Across the valley, a waterfall stumbles down. In a month or two the really hard rains will come down for eighteen hours a day and that waterfall will once again become tough as a glacier and wash away the road. But now it looks as delicate as the path of a white butterfly in a long-exposed…” quote by Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/michael-ondaatje-940_inspirational_across-the-valley-a-waterfall-stumbles-d_3116385.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/michael-ondaatje-940_inspirational_across-the-valley-a-waterfall-stumbles-d_3116385.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46d/michael-ondaatje-940_inspirational_across-the-valley-a-waterfall-stumbles-d_3116385.png) > ““Across the valley, a waterfall stumbles down. In a month or two the really hard rains will come down for eighteen hours a day and that waterfall will once again become tough as a glacier and wash away the road. But now it looks as delicate as the path of a white butterfly in a long-exposed photograph.”” [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nature’s fragility can mask underlying strength, and sudden change can reveal hidden resilience. **In simple terms:** Delicate appearances hide deep power. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden strength in fragile situations. Themes nature resilience change perception Mood reflective poetic Type literary descriptive When to use this quote - personal growth - environmental planning - risk assessment - creative writing Key Concepts metaphor environmental cycles impermanence Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond when delicate situations become intense? - What hidden strengths can you nurture? A Different Perspective Fragility may be temporary; underlying forces can be overwhelming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rain/) [Waterfall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waterfall/) ## Related quotes > [Strong winds do not last all morning, hard rains do not last all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/strong-winds-do-not-last-all-morning-hard-rains-do-not-last-all-day/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“I cannot guarantee you sunshine, but I can promise to stand beside you, no matter how hard it rains...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-spenser/i-cannot-guarantee-you-sunshine-but-i-can-promise-to-stand-beside-you/) Matthew Spenser > [No matter how hard it rains, withstand the pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmx/no-matter-how-hard-it-rains-withstand-the-pain/) [DMX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmx/) > [The skyline is etched in my veins. 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