--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's nothing wrong with Southern…" description: "\"There's nothing wrong with Southern California that a rise in the ocean level wouldn't cure\" — Ross MacDonald" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/ross-macdonald-10904_cities_there-s-nothing-wrong-with-southern-cali_1714179.jpg" --- # There's nothing wrong with Southern California that a rise… ![“There's nothing wrong with Southern California that a rise in the ocean level wouldn't cure” quote by Ross MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/ross-macdonald-10904_cities_there-s-nothing-wrong-with-southern-cali_1714179.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/ross-macdonald-10904_cities_there-s-nothing-wrong-with-southern-cali_1714179.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/ross-macdonald-10904_cities_there-s-nothing-wrong-with-southern-cali_1714179.jpg) > “There's nothing wrong with Southern California that a rise in the ocean level wouldn't cure” [Ross MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excessive sea‑level rise would solve California’s problems, implying they are severe. **In simple terms:** Rising seas would fix California’s issues. Key Takeaway Address root causes, not symptoms. Themes environment climate policy humor Mood sarcastic critical Type satirical humorous When to use this quote - urban planning - environmental activism - public discourse Key Concepts satire exaggeration Questions to Reflect On - What are the real solutions to California’s problems? - How does humor highlight environmental issues? A Different Perspective Sea‑level rise would cause massive loss, not a cure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [California Rise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/california-rise-1274747/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Ocean Level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean-level-1274748/) [Rise Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rise-ocean-1274749/) [Southern california](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/southern-california/) [Wouldn Cure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wouldn-cure-1274750/) ## Related quotes > [“There was nothing wrong with Southern California that a rise in the ocean level wouldn't cure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-macdonald/there-was-nothing-wrong-with-southern-california-that-a-rise-in-the/) [Ross Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-macdonald/) > [Nothing is wrong with California that a rise in the ocean level wouldn't cure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-macdonald/nothing-is-wrong-with-california-that-a-rise-in-the-ocean-level/) [Ross Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-macdonald/) > [We all drink from one water We all breathe from one air We rise from one ocean And we live under one sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-fazal/we-all-drink-from-one-water-we-all-breathe-from-one-air-we-rise-from/) [Anwar Fazal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-fazal/) > [No Matter Your Trouble: The sun will still rise, the ocean will still have waves, and life will still go on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/no-matter-your-trouble-the-sun-will-still-rise-the-ocean-will-still/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I grew up in Southern California, Simi Valley. I've lived in the same house all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-dolley/i-grew-up-in-southern-california-simi-valley-i-ve-lived-in-the-same/) [Jason Dolley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-dolley/) > [The day after my mom died I fly back to California and spend the three weeks before the California primary making arrangements for her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-keilar/the-day-after-my-mom-died-i-fly-back-to-california-and-spend-the/) [Brianna Keilar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-keilar/) > [“Children all over the world do ridiculous, borderline dangerous things, and no one around them questions it, because it's ingrained in their culture. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/children-all-over-the-world-do-ridiculous-borderline-dangerous-things/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [My parents separated before I was 1 year old. I moved in with my aunt and uncle when I was in fourth grade. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-polamalu/my-parents-separated-before-i-was-1-year-old-i-moved-in-with-my-aunt/) [Troy Polamalu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-polamalu/) > [Probably the first time I was a boss was when I was associate dean of the graduate school at the University of Southern California.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/probably-the-first-time-i-was-a-boss-was-when-i-was-associate-dean-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What is Southern California but an ever-changing dreamscape backdrop for the postmodern ideal? The psychology of the postmodern world is the continual state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-van-hamersveld/what-is-southern-california-but-an-ever-changing-dreamscape-backdrop/) [John Van Hamersveld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-van-hamersveld/) > [The first two pictures I did, I played a young student in prep school. 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You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [The Urban Literate Southern California Sub-Group of the Early Atomic Period has not yet produced a distinct body of folk music of its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hinton/the-urban-literate-southern-california-sub-group-of-the-early-atomic/) [Sam Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hinton/) ## More by Ross MacDonald > [Money costs too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-macdonald/money-costs-too-much/) [Ross MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-macdonald/) > [“The sea was surging among the pilings like the blithe mindless forces of dissolution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-macdonald/the-sea-was-surging-among-the-pilings-like-the-blithe-mindless-forces/) [Ross Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-macdonald/) > [I knew how it was with drunks. They ran out of generosity, even for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-macdonald/i-knew-how-it-was-with-drunks-they-ran-out-of-generosity-even-for/) [Ross MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-macdonald/) > [“She didn't look like any motel manager I had ever seen. 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Tame danger, controlled by me. It gives me a sense of power, I guess, to take my life in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-macdonald/i-like-a-little-danger-tame-danger-controlled-by-me-it-gives-me-a/) [Ross Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-macdonald/) > [I had reached the point when I could not see anything clearly ahead, I needed help, and I got it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-macdonald/i-had-reached-the-point-when-i-could-not-see-anything-clearly-ahead-i/) [Ross MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-macdonald/) > [How can a man help breaking the law when he don't have money to live on?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-macdonald/how-can-a-man-help-breaking-the-law-when-he-don-t-have-money-to-live/) [Ross MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-macdonald/) > [The smell of the sea, of kelp and fish and bitter moving water, rose stronger in my nostrils. It flooded my consciousness like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-macdonald/the-smell-of-the-sea-of-kelp-and-fish-and-bitter-moving-water-rose/) [Ross Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-macdonald/) [Explore all 62 Ross MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-macdonald/) ## More Cities quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. 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Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. One regional German government after another was toppled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cross-giblin/all-germany-was-in-turmoil-revolutionaries-seized-power-in-the-cities/) [James Cross Giblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cross-giblin/) > [Nice is a city of ghosts and specters, but I hope not to become one of them right away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/nice-is-a-city-of-ghosts-and-specters-but-i-hope-not-to-become-one-of/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [We will neglect our cities to our peril, for in neglecting them we neglect the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-will-neglect-our-cities-to-our-peril-for-in-neglecting-them-we/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [I didn't know the city at all, but I was so happy to be in New York I cried. I was so excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-didn-t-know-the-city-at-all-but-i-was-so-happy-to-be-in-new-york-i/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [Outside of Paris, there is no hope for the cultured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/outside-of-paris-there-is-no-hope-for-the-cultured/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Vienna is a handsome, lively city, and pleases me exceedingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-chopin/vienna-is-a-handsome-lively-city-and-pleases-me-exceedingly/) [Frederic Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-chopin/) > [“We have grace of strength to work, to clear our cities of any dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-have-grace-of-strength-to-work-to-clear-our-cities-of-any-dirt/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I was too tired to think. I merely felt the town as a unique unreality. What was it? I knew -- the moon's picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-too-tired-to-think-i-merely-felt-the-town-as-a-unique-unreality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 7,153 Cities quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There's nothing wrong with Southern California that a rise in the ocean level wouldn't cure", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ross MacDonald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-macdonald/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-southern-california-that-a-rise-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cities" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-macdonald/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-southern-california-that-a-rise-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/ross-macdonald-10904_cities_there-s-nothing-wrong-with-southern-cali_1714179.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/ross-macdonald-10904_cities_there-s-nothing-wrong-with-southern-cali_1714179.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/ross-macdonald-10904_cities_there-s-nothing-wrong-with-southern-cali_1714179.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There's nothing wrong with Southern California that a rise in the ocean level wouldn't cure” — Ross MacDonald", "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": "Ross MacDonald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-macdonald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There's nothing wrong with Southern California...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-macdonald/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-southern-california-that-a-rise-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-macdonald/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-southern-california-that-a-rise-in-the/#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 } } ] } ```