---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's why we live by a river…"
description: "\"That's why we live by a river. Occasionally, I forget and pat Lit on the back--' 'I hate that.' King Midas & Lit\" — Rick Riordan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/rick-riordan-27_forget_that-s-why-we-live-by-a-river-occasional_1888057.jpg"
---

#  That's why we live by a river. Occasionally, I forget and…

![“That's why we live by a river. Occasionally, I forget and pat Lit on the back--' 'I hate that.' King Midas &amp; Lit” quote by Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/rick-riordan-27_forget_that-s-why-we-live-by-a-river-occasional_1888057.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/rick-riordan-27_forget_that-s-why-we-live-by-a-river-occasional_1888057.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/rick-riordan-27_forget_that-s-why-we-live-by-a-river-occasional_1888057.jpg)

> “That's why we live by a river. Occasionally, I forget and pat Lit on the back--' 'I hate that.' King Midas &amp; Lit”

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Living by a river symbolizes a steady, grounding presence; occasional forgetfulness leads to self‑criticism and frustration

**In simple terms:** A river is a calm guide, but we sometimes ignore it and get upset

Key Takeaway

Remember the steady support you have and appreciate it

Themes

mindfulness self‑compassion gratitude

Mood

reflective calm

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- daily reflection
- stressful moments
- personal growth

Key Concepts

Stoicism self‑awareness

Questions to Reflect On

- What steady influences do you take for granted?
- How can you turn frustration into appreciation?

A Different Perspective

We may overlook constant support and become overly critical

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hate King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate-king-2708617/) [I hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-hate/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Lit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lit/) [Lit Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lit-hate-2708614/) [Live by](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-by/) [Live River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-river-2708616/) [Midas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/midas/) [Midas Lit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/midas-lit-2708615/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [River Occasionally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river-occasionally-2708613/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/)

## Related quotes

> [“And you really live by the river? What a jolly life!” “By it and with it and on it and in it,” said the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-fedarko/and-you-really-live-by-the-river-what-a-jolly-life-by-it-and-with-it/)

[Kevin Fedarko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-fedarko/)

> [DNA is like Midas's gold, everyone who touches it goes mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-wilkins/dna-is-like-midas-s-gold-everyone-who-touches-it-goes-mad/)

[Maurice Wilkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-wilkins/)

> [Just as King Midas turned everything to gold, Stalin turned everything to mediocrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/just-as-king-midas-turned-everything-to-gold-stalin-turned-everything/)

[Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/)

> [I have become rather like King Midas, except that everything turns not into gold but into a circus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-have-become-rather-like-king-midas-except-that-everything-turns-not/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [“The other story about Midas is that he was called upon to judge between the music of Pan and Apollo and found in favour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-taggart/the-other-story-about-midas-is-that-he-was-called-upon-to-judge/)

[Caroline Taggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-taggart/)

> [To me, the capacity to earn money has never been a measurement of success. It is my belief that people must develop a philosophy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-vallee/to-me-the-capacity-to-earn-money-has-never-been-a-measurement-of/)

[Rudy Vallee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-vallee/)

> [I don't have a good thing to say about Eric Bischoff or anything he ever did. Talk about the Midas touch, he was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-hart/i-don-t-have-a-good-thing-to-say-about-eric-bischoff-or-anything-he/)

[Bret Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-hart/)

> [“It does not have walls splattered with gold leaf like King Midas has had a nosebleed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-rayner/it-does-not-have-walls-splattered-with-gold-leaf-like-king-midas-has/)

[Jay Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-rayner/)

> [It is the system, rather than individuals, that is the source of pollution and degradation. My prison-house environment is but another manifestation of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-berkman/it-is-the-system-rather-than-individuals-that-is-the-source-of/)

[Alexander Berkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-berkman/)

> [ Accumulating knowledge is a form of avarice and lends itself to another version of the Midas story ...man \[is\] so avid for knowledge that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/accumulating-knowledge-is-a-form-of-avarice-and-lends-itself-to/)

[Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/)

> [Midas-eared Mammonism, double-barrelled Dilettantism, and their thousand adjuncts and corollaries, are not the Law by which God Almighty has appointed this His universe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/midas-eared-mammonism-double-barrelled-dilettantism-and-their/)

[Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/)

> [“This guy was beyond lucky. He was Midas with a better attorney, or the owner of a Monkey’s Paw version 2.0, or Richard Cory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-monk/this-guy-was-beyond-lucky-he-was-midas-with-a-better-attorney-or-the/)

[John L. Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-monk/)

> [ I feel like Travis \[Stevens\] is just a Midas touch producer. Seemingly everything he touches turns to gold lately, so that was quite exciting… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-crampton/i-feel-like-travis-stevens-is-just-a-midas-touch-producer-seemingly/)

[Barbara Crampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-crampton/)

> [Ten thousand casks, Forever dribbling out their base contents, Touch'd by the Midas finger of the state, Bleed gold for ministers to sport away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/ten-thousand-casks-forever-dribbling-out-their-base-contents-touch-d/)

[William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/)

> [“There's an internal compass inside of me that laid still for so long, stuck behind its arc of glass, listless and without hope. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raven-kennedy/there-s-an-internal-compass-inside-of-me-that-laid-still-for-so-long/)

[Raven Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raven-kennedy/)

## More by Rick Riordan

> [“It made sense, and I felt kind of stupid. I’d been hanging around dryads”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-made-sense-and-i-felt-kind-of-stupid-i-d-been-hanging-around-dryads/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“That awkward moment when you jump out a window because your friend jumped out a window, then you remember that your other friend can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/that-awkward-moment-when-you-jump-out-a-window-because-your-friend/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Oh, dear Hazel.” Aphrodite folded her fan. “Such optimism, yet you have heartrending days ahead of you. Of course war is coming. Love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/oh-dear-hazel-aphrodite-folded-her-fan-such-optimism-yet-you-have/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“He started toward the entrance. Seriously, how could he not? He stopped when he noticed the girl. She was kneeling in her vegetable garden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-started-toward-the-entrance-seriously-how-could-he-not-he-stopped/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Hercules used noise! Brass bells! He scared them away with the most horrible sound he could-" said Percy "Percy... Chiron's collection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hercules-used-noise-brass-bells-he-scared-them-away-with-the-most/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“When you take someone’s hand and lead them to Valhalla, you get a glimpse into their soul.” “Did that happen when you took me?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/when-you-take-someone-s-hand-and-lead-them-to-valhalla-you-get-a/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“he didn’t look as good as Piper had last night after she’d suddenly been transformed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-didn-t-look-as-good-as-piper-had-last-night-after-she-d-suddenly/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [There’s my baby!” I cried, quite carried away. “There’s my Poochiekins!” Ammit ran at me and leaped into my arms, nuzzling me with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/there-s-my-baby-i-cried-quite-carried-away-there-s-my-poochiekins/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“Leo plunked the cheese wheel in front of me. "Cut me a wedge of this, my good ma. Chop-chop!" I scowled at him. "Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/leo-plunked-the-cheese-wheel-in-front-of-me-cut-me-a-wedge-of-this-my/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [It's all still about having a good story. You have to have a good story as your anchor, as your main focus. So for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-all-still-about-having-a-good-story-you-have-to-have-a-good/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [I disobeyed Ra's wishes, and so he ordered my onw father, Shu-" "Hang on," I said. "Shoe?" "S-h-u," she said. "The god of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-disobeyed-ra-s-wishes-and-so-he-ordered-my-onw-father-shu-hang-on-i/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“Nico knelt and picked it up. He regarded Jason, as if waiting for an attack. "If the others found out-" "If the others found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/nico-knelt-and-picked-it-up-he-regarded-jason-as-if-waiting-for-an/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Wouldn't that put a twist in your toga?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/wouldn-t-that-put-a-twist-in-your-toga/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [ \[Hazel\] hissed in frustration. 'I hate eidolons. I thought Piper made them promise to stay away.' 'Oh...' Frank said, like he'd just had his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hazel-hissed-in-frustration-i-hate-eidolons-i-thought-piper-made-them/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

[Explore all 2,993 Rick Riordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

## More Forget quotes

> [I Never met her,i never talked to her,but in my whole day I am either thinking about her or trying to forget her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subhananda/i-never-met-her-i-never-talked-to-her-but-in-my-whole-day-i-am-either/)

[Subhananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subhananda/)

> [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/)

[Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/)

> [Once upon a time. Ah forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-upon-a-time-ah-forget-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/)

[Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/)

> [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/)

[Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/)

> [Your memory is a monster; you forget - it doesn't. It simply files things away. It keeps things for you, or hides things from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/your-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-doesn-t-it-simply-files-things/)

[John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/)

> [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/)

[Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/)

> [The problem with people is they forget that most of the time it's the small things that count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-niven/the-problem-with-people-is-they-forget-that-most-of-the-time-it-s-the/)

[Jennifer Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-niven/)

> [Remind a man of what he remembers, and you will make him forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plautus/remind-a-man-of-what-he-remembers-and-you-will-make-him-forget-it/)

[Plautus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plautus/)

> [“So you try, and try, to move past it and forget about them, but it's like they're stuck in your head -- you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-mcdonald/so-you-try-and-try-to-move-past-it-and-forget-about-them-but-it-s/)

[Abby McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-mcdonald/)

> [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/)

[Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/)

> [People are disturbed not by things but by the view they take of them. They may forget what you said, but they will never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/people-are-disturbed-not-by-things-but-by-the-view-they-take-of-them/)

[Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/)

> [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/)

> [If God knows me I will never forget him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trunxbeats/if-god-knows-me-i-will-never-forget-him/)

[Trunxbeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trunxbeats/)

> [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/)

[John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/)

[Browse all 11,315 Forget quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "That's why we live by a river. Occasionally, I forget and pat Lit on the back--' 'I hate that.' King Midas & Lit",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rick Riordan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/that-s-why-we-live-by-a-river-occasionally-i-forget-and-pat-lit-on/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Forget"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/that-s-why-we-live-by-a-river-occasionally-i-forget-and-pat-lit-on/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/rick-riordan-27_forget_that-s-why-we-live-by-a-river-occasional_1888057.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/rick-riordan-27_forget_that-s-why-we-live-by-a-river-occasional_1888057.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d1/rick-riordan-27_forget_that-s-why-we-live-by-a-river-occasional_1888057.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“That's why we live by a river. Occasionally, I forget and pat Lit on the back--' 'I hate that.' King Midas &…” — Rick Riordan",
                "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": "Rick Riordan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "That's why we live by a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/that-s-why-we-live-by-a-river-occasionally-i-forget-and-pat-lit-on/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/that-s-why-we-live-by-a-river-occasionally-i-forget-and-pat-lit-on/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
