--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Southern California doesn't know whether…" description: "\"Southern California doesn't know whether to bustle or just strangle itself on the spot.\" — Neal Stephenson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/neal-stephenson-362_bustle_southern-california-doesn-t-know-whether_1810206.png" --- # Southern California doesn't know whether to bustle or just… ![“Southern California doesn't know whether to bustle or just strangle itself on the spot.” quote by Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/neal-stephenson-362_bustle_southern-california-doesn-t-know-whether_1810206.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/neal-stephenson-362_bustle_southern-california-doesn-t-know-whether_1810206.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/neal-stephenson-362_bustle_southern-california-doesn-t-know-whether_1810206.png) > “Southern California doesn't know whether to bustle or just strangle itself on the spot.” [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques Southern California’s chaotic growth and self‑destructive tendencies, suggesting it’s torn between rapid development and stagnation. **In simple terms:** Southern California is conflicted between rapid growth and self‑destruction. Key Takeaway Recognize and balance growth with sustainable planning. Themes urban development conflict growth sustainability regional identity Mood critical reflective Type observational analytical When to use this quote - city planning - real estate investment - environmental policy - community activism Key Concepts urban planning social dynamics environmental impact Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster growth without sacrificing livability? - What policies can prevent self‑destructive urban sprawl? A Different Perspective Rapid expansion can exacerbate inequality and resource strain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [California](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/california/) [Southern california](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/southern-california/) ## Related quotes > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I am so mad at the press I could just strangle them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-romney/i-am-so-mad-at-the-press-i-could-just-strangle-them/) [Ann Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-romney/) > [“He bit back a weary sigh and tried to remember strangling her would solve squat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-moran/he-bit-back-a-weary-sigh-and-tried-to-remember-strangling-her-would/) [Kelly Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-moran/) > [“Drop or strangle; oh, the choices this business forced him to make.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/drop-or-strangle-oh-the-choices-this-business-forced-him-to-make/) [Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/) > [“To spin the tale with great flourish but never live the tale is the power of vision strangled to fiction by the fiction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-spin-the-tale-with-great-flourish-but-never-live-the-tale-is-the/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“Ambitions are incompatible with consciences, you know. The two strangle one another straightaway and leave an awful mess behind them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/ambitions-are-incompatible-with-consciences-you-know-the-two-strangle/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Without moral progress, stimulated by faith in God, immorality in all its forms will proliferate and strangle goodness and human decency. Mankind will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/without-moral-progress-stimulated-by-faith-in-god-immorality-in-all/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [If you don't explain it all to me, I might strangle somebody." Of course, Raphael might like that...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/if-you-don-t-explain-it-all-to-me-i-might-strangle-somebody-of-course/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [And his hands would plait the priest's entrails, For want of a rope, to strangle kings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/and-his-hands-would-plait-the-priest-s-entrails-for-want-of-a-rope-to/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Every impulse we strangle will only poison us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/every-impulse-we-strangle-will-only-poison-us/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Dont leave me hanging,i rather u tie a rope around ma neck n strangle me straight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe/dont-leave-me-hanging-i-rather-u-tie-a-rope-around-ma-neck-n-strangle/) [Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe/) > [“If I do catch sight of my heart, I'm going to strangle the thing just to put it out of its misery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-b-kerr-2/if-i-do-catch-sight-of-my-heart-i-m-going-to-strangle-the-thing-just/) P. B. Kerr > [I embrace my rival, but only to strangle him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/i-embrace-my-rival-but-only-to-strangle-him/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [We have over an hour of footage with Ken Marino. Same with Kevin Smith. Because you never know, when you let people who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-miller/we-have-over-an-hour-of-footage-with-ken-marino-same-with-kevin-smith/) [Lauren Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-miller/) > [“People are laughing at me today for having holes in my pockets, and ink blood on my fingers- a thirty-something old writer, who strangles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/people-are-laughing-at-me-today-for-having-holes-in-my-pockets-and/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) ## More by Neal Stephenson > [“I study dead languages for a living,” I said. “That’s why you hired me. Why should I be up to speed on your line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/i-study-dead-languages-for-a-living-i-said-that-s-why-you-hired-me/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Other people - store clerks, burger flippers, software engineers, the whole vocabulary of meaningless jobs that make up Life in America - other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/other-people-store-clerks-burger-flippers-software-engineers-the/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“It is what you don’t expect,” he’d said, “that most needs looking for.” “Do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/it-is-what-you-don-t-expect-he-d-said-that-most-needs-looking-for-do/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“...the insects here see you as a big slab of animated but not very well defended food. The ability to move, far from being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-insects-here-see-you-as-a-big-slab-of-animated-but-not-very-well/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“There was no way that these guys were going to let a bleeding, barefoot woman simply wander off alone into the streets. Two of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/there-was-no-way-that-these-guys-were-going-to-let-a-bleeding/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Space and Time! Two minor omissions that no one is likely to notice," grumbled Newton.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/space-and-time-two-minor-omissions-that-no-one-is-likely-to-notice/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [See, the world is full of things more powerful than us. But if you know how to catch a ride, you can go places,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/see-the-world-is-full-of-things-more-powerful-than-us-but-if-you-know/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Hey,” Shaftoe says, “if we surrender to you, you’ll kill us. Right?” “Yes.” “If you guys surrender to us, we won’t kill you. Promise.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/hey-shaftoe-says-if-we-surrender-to-you-you-ll-kill-us-right-yes-if/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“My men think you are dead now, and won’t waste balls on you,” Jack said. “In fact I have let you live, but for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/my-men-think-you-are-dead-now-and-won-t-waste-balls-on-you-jack-said/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“You’ve probably heard the expression that the Industry feeds off of biomass, like a whale straining krill from the ocean.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/you-ve-probably-heard-the-expression-that-the-industry-feeds-off-of/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“The Deliverator belongs to an elite order, a hallowed subcategory. He’s got esprit up to here. Right now, he is preparing to carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-deliverator-belongs-to-an-elite-order-a-hallowed-subcategory-he-s/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [Interesting things happen along borders - transitions - not in the middle where everything is the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/interesting-things-happen-along-borders-transitions-not-in-the-middle/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“and people could only make sense of complicated matters through stories. Likewise”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/and-people-could-only-make-sense-of-complicated-matters-through/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Van Eck phreaking,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/van-eck-phreaking/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“When the Deliverator puts the hammer down, shit happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/when-the-deliverator-puts-the-hammer-down-shit-happens/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) [Explore all 633 Neal Stephenson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) ## More Bustle quotes > [Truly, the bench is a boon to idlers. Whoever first came up with the idea is a genius: free public resting places where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/truly-the-bench-is-a-boon-to-idlers-whoever-first-came-up-with-the/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [Holidays are in no sense an alternative to the congestion and bustle of the cities and work. Quite the contrary. People look to escape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/holidays-are-in-no-sense-an-alternative-to-the-congestion-and-bustle/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [What is the true test of character unless it be its progressive development in the bustle and turmoil, in the action and reaction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/what-is-the-true-test-of-character-unless-it-be-its-progressive/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We care not how many see us in choler, when we rave and bluster, and make as much noise and bustle as we can;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-savage-landor/we-care-not-how-many-see-us-in-choler-when-we-rave-and-bluster-and/) [Walter Savage Landor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-savage-landor/) > [Virtue could see to do what virtue would By her own radiant light, though sun and moon Were in the flat sea sunk. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/virtue-could-see-to-do-what-virtue-would-by-her-own-radiant-light/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [In health, in the bustle of living, it was easy to believe in heaven and a life to come. But when the blow fell,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-handel-richardson/in-health-in-the-bustle-of-living-it-was-easy-to-believe-in-heaven/) [Henry Handel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-handel-richardson/) > [And see all sights from pole to pole, And glance, and nod, and hustle by; And never once possess our soul Before we die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/and-see-all-sights-from-pole-to-pole-and-glance-and-nod-and-hustle-by/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [Faith doesn't mean that you don't have doubts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/faith-doesn-t-mean-that-you-don-t-have-doubts/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Bustle about Noddy, or we shant be in time to snabble any of the lobster patties.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/bustle-about-noddy-or-we-shant-be-in-time-to-snabble-any-of-the/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Defeat is a thing of weariness, of incoherence, of boredom, and above all futility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/defeat-is-a-thing-of-weariness-of-incoherence-of-boredom-and-above/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Politics these days is a disgusting game of mud-slinging, filled with selfish people with selfish aims. I'm very glad I've retired away from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munir-butt/politics-these-days-is-a-disgusting-game-of-mud-slinging-filled-with/) Munir Butt > [“Love of bustle is not industry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/love-of-bustle-is-not-industry/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Wonder is a very subtle, precious emotion, often lost in the gross hustle and bustle of modern life. When we feel wonder, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-henning/wonder-is-a-very-subtle-precious-emotion-often-lost-in-the-gross/) [Doug Henning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-henning/) > [I grew up in Nairobi, which is the capital of Kenya, so it's hustle and bustle, and there's always something going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/i-grew-up-in-nairobi-which-is-the-capital-of-kenya-so-it-s-hustle-and/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [It is a time of quiet joy, the sunny morning. When the glittery dew is on the mallow weeds, each leaf holds a jewel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/it-is-a-time-of-quiet-joy-the-sunny-morning-when-the-glittery-dew-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) Browse all 77 Bustle quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Southern California doesn't know whether to bustle or just strangle itself on the spot.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neal Stephenson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/southern-california-doesn-t-know-whether-to-bustle-or-just-strangle/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bustle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/southern-california-doesn-t-know-whether-to-bustle-or-just-strangle/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/neal-stephenson-362_bustle_southern-california-doesn-t-know-whether_1810206.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/neal-stephenson-362_bustle_southern-california-doesn-t-know-whether_1810206.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/neal-stephenson-362_bustle_southern-california-doesn-t-know-whether_1810206.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Southern California doesn't know whether to bustle or just strangle itself on the spot.” — Neal Stephenson", "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": "Neal Stephenson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Southern California doesn't know whether to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/southern-california-doesn-t-know-whether-to-bustle-or-just-strangle/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/southern-california-doesn-t-know-whether-to-bustle-or-just-strangle/#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 } } ] } ```