--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fences and walls can be effective and…" description: "\"Fences and walls can be effective and even soothing, at least for those who build them.\" — Richard Engel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00b/richard-engel-3133_build_fences-and-walls-can-be-effective-and-ev_2214030.jpg" --- # Fences and walls can be effective and even soothing, at… ![“Fences and walls can be effective and even soothing, at least for those who build them.” quote by Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00b/richard-engel-3133_build_fences-and-walls-can-be-effective-and-ev_2214030.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00b/richard-engel-3133_build_fences-and-walls-can-be-effective-and-ev_2214030.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00b/richard-engel-3133_build_fences-and-walls-can-be-effective-and-ev_2214030.jpg) > “Fences and walls can be effective and even soothing, at least for those who build them.” [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Boundaries can provide comfort and security for creators, though they may also isolate. **In simple terms:** Walls can soothe builders. Key Takeaway Use boundaries wisely for protection. Themes security psychology isolation Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical thought‑provoking When to use this quote - home design - team management - mental health coping Key Concepts defensive architecture personal space Questions to Reflect On - Do your boundaries serve you? - When might they become barriers? A Different Perspective Excessive walls hinder collaboration and growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fences/) [Soothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soothing/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) ## Related quotes > [There were a lot of fences and walls existing in my life, literally and figuratively, and that was really not indicative of the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/there-were-a-lot-of-fences-and-walls-existing-in-my-life-literally/) [Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/) > [I was part of the gang of eight in the house in 2013 that was working on comprehensive immigration reform. We talked a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yarmuth/i-was-part-of-the-gang-of-eight-in-the-house-in-2013-that-was-working/) [John Yarmuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yarmuth/) > [Israel is becoming a fortress. Fences along the borders with Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/israel-is-becoming-a-fortress-fences-along-the-borders-with-egypt/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [He who rides and keeps the beaten track studies the fences chiefly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/he-who-rides-and-keeps-the-beaten-track-studies-the-fences-chiefly/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [ You'll see some great performances \[in Fences\]. And I'm not just saying that because I directed it either! You'll see! ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/you-ll-see-some-great-performances-in-fences-and-i-m-not-just-saying/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [I stay away from heavy-handed stuff, the good guy and the bad guy. It just doesn't interest me; all it does is create more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/i-stay-away-from-heavy-handed-stuff-the-good-guy-and-the-bad-guy-it/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [The thing that happens is that politicians run on tough-on-crime rhetoric. You appeal to the public and say, 'Let's put more money into taller…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-jarecki/the-thing-that-happens-is-that-politicians-run-on-tough-on-crime/) [Eugene Jarecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-jarecki/) > [“Have you ever noticed how many fences there're getting to be? And the signs they got on them: no hunting, no hiking, no admission,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/have-you-ever-noticed-how-many-fences-there-re-getting-to-be-and-the/) [Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/) > [“Just as “good fences make good neighbors,” clear delineations of responsibility can prevent the kind of turf battles that break down staff relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duffy-robbins/just-as-good-fences-make-good-neighbors-clear-delineations-of/) [Duffy Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duffy-robbins/) > [“The one who breaks fences believes in freedom, no boundaries and universal browsing. Those who build them believe in setting rules for others and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sameh-elsayed/the-one-who-breaks-fences-believes-in-freedom-no-boundaries-and/) [Sameh Elsayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sameh-elsayed/) > [ For me, that was a hard scene \[in "Fences"\] to do twenty-something times, which (laughing), I counted. That was difficult, but once I did… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/for-me-that-was-a-hard-scene-in-fences-to-do-twenty-something-times/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [One can't build little white picket fences to keep nightmares out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/one-can-t-build-little-white-picket-fences-to-keep-nightmares-out/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [Safety is a fence, and fences are for sheep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/safety-is-a-fence-and-fences-are-for-sheep/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [In a world without fences, who needs Gates?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcnealy/in-a-world-without-fences-who-needs-gates/) [Scott McNealy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcnealy/) > [“He was guarded behind a hundred fences of reserve and anger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/he-was-guarded-behind-a-hundred-fences-of-reserve-and-anger/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) ## More by Richard Engel > [The Syrians are better suited to sort out their internal divisions than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/the-syrians-are-better-suited-to-sort-out-their-internal-divisions/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Osama Bin Laden is dead. Killed not by a massive troop deployment but by a commando raid carried out by a few dozen highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/osama-bin-laden-is-dead-killed-not-by-a-massive-troop-deployment-but/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Anyone who follows the Middle East and Islamic world in general can't deny it is often a very violent place, that a band of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/anyone-who-follows-the-middle-east-and-islamic-world-in-general-can-t/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [An Egyptian newspaper once publicly identified me as the C.I.A. station chief in Cairo. It seemed so stupid at the time. 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