---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The wind plays the world like an…"
description: "\"“The wind plays the world like an instrument. Blows through trees like flutes. But trees won’t grow in cement. And as heart beats bring percussion fall..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/saul-williams-3868_trees_the-wind-plays-the-world-like-an-instrum_3062812.png"
---

#  The wind plays the world like an instrument. Blows through…

![“The wind plays the world like an instrument. Blows through trees like flutes. But trees won’t grow in cement. And as heart beats bring percussion fallen trees bring repercussions. Cities play upon our souls like broken drums.” quote by Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/saul-williams-3868_trees_the-wind-plays-the-world-like-an-instrum_3062812.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/saul-williams-3868_trees_the-wind-plays-the-world-like-an-instrum_3062812.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbb/saul-williams-3868_trees_the-wind-plays-the-world-like-an-instrum_3062812.png)

> ““The wind plays the world like an instrument. Blows through trees like flutes. But trees won’t grow in cement. And as heart beats bring percussion fallen trees bring repercussions. Cities play upon our souls like broken drums.””

[Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

## About This Quote

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

Urban environments stifle natural growth, creating discord between humanity and nature.

**In simple terms:** Cities suppress natural growth.

Key Takeaway

Seek harmony with nature.

Themes

nature city environment music spirituality

Mood

reflective poetic

Type

literary inspirational

When to use this quote

- urban planning
- environmental activism
- personal mindfulness

Key Concepts

metaphor ecology urban decay

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you bring natural rhythm into daily life?
- What changes would make cities feel more alive?

A Different Perspective

Nature may be integrated into city life with effort.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trees/)

## Related quotes

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[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [“That beautiful girl, she was a universe, bearer of these words that rang like gongs, that tumbled like flutes made of human bones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/that-beautiful-girl-she-was-a-universe-bearer-of-these-words-that/)

[Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/)

> [“Know why I plant trees?" "No." "I like thinking that they'll be here long after I'm gone. All those fine memories pushing up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-bauer/know-why-i-plant-trees-no-i-like-thinking-that-they-ll-be-here-long/)

[Joan Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bauer/)

> [Trees are much like human beings and enjoy each other's company. Only a few love to be alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-jensen/trees-are-much-like-human-beings-and-enjoy-each-other-s-company-only/)

[Jens Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-jensen/)

> [The leaves of the trees are like the thoughts of the men: Some are bright, some dark; some fresh, some rotten; some healthy, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-leaves-of-the-trees-are-like-the-thoughts-of-the-men-some-are/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Friends and People are like clouds and trees that we see hustling past the window of a running train. Trees are like PEOPLE.. all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn/friends-and-people-are-like-clouds-and-trees-that-we-see-hustling/)

Vikrmn

> [If only people were trees… I might like them better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/if-only-people-were-trees-i-might-like-them-better/)

[Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/)

> [“The trees out there are like people, she thought: they might be clad in scintillating brilliance, yet underneath they are miserable, impoverished, frozen. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-g-rosenberg/the-trees-out-there-are-like-people-she-thought-they-might-be-clad-in/)

[Jacob G. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-g-rosenberg/)

> [It's interesting to think that my ancestors used to live in the trees, like apes, until finally they got the nerve to head out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-interesting-to-think-that-my-ancestors-used-to-live-in-the-trees/)

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

> [“The trees were like black skeletons reaching to the sky, pleading with their bony arms for the sun to get stronger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/the-trees-were-like-black-skeletons-reaching-to-the-sky-pleading-with/)

[J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/)

> [“... daylight crept through the trees like an army of crafty boys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-franklin/daylight-crept-through-the-trees-like-an-army-of-crafty-boys/)

[Tom Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-franklin/)

> [“Trees are like people and give the answers to the way of Man. They grow from the top down. Children, like treetops, have flexibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-helfer/trees-are-like-people-and-give-the-answers-to-the-way-of-man-they/)

[Ralph Helfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-helfer/)

> [“The trees do not like strangers. They watch you. They are usually content merely to watch you, as long as daylight lasts, and don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/the-trees-do-not-like-strangers-they-watch-you-they-are-usually/)

[J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/)

> [I like indoor Christmas trees. And I like people who decorate their homes with lights and all that crap. I think it's a healthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/i-like-indoor-christmas-trees-and-i-like-people-who-decorate-their/)

[Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/)

> [“Sitting at the old patio table she’d cleared of leaves, she smiled and leaned back. The stars looked twisted in the limbs of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-addison-allen/sitting-at-the-old-patio-table-she-d-cleared-of-leaves-she-smiled-and/)

[Sarah Addison Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-addison-allen/)

## More by Saul Williams

> [Fax me a fact and I'll telegram a hologram or telephone the son of man and tell him he is done. Leave a message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/fax-me-a-fact-and-i-ll-telegram-a-hologram-or-telephone-the-son-of/)

[Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

> [I didn't ever want to make a rap album. I considered it too limiting. Now that's exactly what I've gone and done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/i-didn-t-ever-want-to-make-a-rap-album-i-considered-it-too-limiting/)

[Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

> [American culture is often so self-consumed that we often think that our problems are just our problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/american-culture-is-often-so-self-consumed-that-we-often-think-that/)

[Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

> [I remember back in the day when Chuck D called hip-hop the 'black people's CNN.' Well now, hip-hop is more like Fox News. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/i-remember-back-in-the-day-when-chuck-d-called-hip-hop-the-black/)

[Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

> [If we're gonna progress as a people we are going to realise that, as one of my favourite poets says, the other is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/if-we-re-gonna-progress-as-a-people-we-are-going-to-realise-that-as/)

[Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

> [I've always been inspired by a lot of work coming out of the UK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/i-ve-always-been-inspired-by-a-lot-of-work-coming-out-of-the-uk/)

[Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

> [My love is my soul's imagination... how do I love you... imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/my-love-is-my-soul-s-imagination-how-do-i-love-you-imagine/)

[Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

> [Some rather seek up high Than dig and grind that inner truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/some-rather-seek-up-high-than-dig-and-grind-that-inner-truth/)

[Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

> [I keep trying to forget, but I must remember. And gather the scattered continents of a self, once whole. Before they plant flags and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/i-keep-trying-to-forget-but-i-must-remember-and-gather-the-scattered/)

[Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

> [Books are carefully folded forests/void of autumn/bound from the sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/books-are-carefully-folded-forests-void-of-autumn-bound-from-the-sun/)

[Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

> [The organization of self, and all self-aligning principles would be those that I promote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/the-organization-of-self-and-all-self-aligning-principles-would-be/)

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> [Jay Z and President Bush have a lot in common, that same brash confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/jay-z-and-president-bush-have-a-lot-in-common-that-same-brash/)

[Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

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[Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

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[Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

> [I am hoping for peaceful transition into a new age. Obama has already played a great role in initiating us into that vision. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-williams/i-am-hoping-for-peaceful-transition-into-a-new-age-obama-has-already/)

[Saul Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

[Explore all 120 Saul Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-williams/)

## More Trees quotes

> [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/)

[Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/)

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[Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/)

> [“Sitting at the old patio table she’d cleared of leaves, she smiled and leaned back. The stars looked twisted in the limbs of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-addison-allen/sitting-at-the-old-patio-table-she-d-cleared-of-leaves-she-smiled-and/)

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> [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/)

[Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/)

> [Suddenly a mist of green on the trees, as quiet as thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-richardson/suddenly-a-mist-of-green-on-the-trees-as-quiet-as-thought/)

[Dorothy Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-richardson/)

> [“a crime to fell a tree and light it on fire, where coals of hardened shit warmed and stunk up homes,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/a-crime-to-fell-a-tree-and-light-it-on-fire-where-coals-of-hardened/)

[Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/)

> [“Nevermore Tree was gargantuan, a word which here means 'having attained an inordinate amount of botanical volume.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/nevermore-tree-was-gargantuan-a-word-which-here-means-having-attained/)

[Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/)

> [“Sentinels of trees breathe life into bodies of earthly flesh As their mighty arms reach to the stars we join in their quest for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-ravenswood/sentinels-of-trees-breathe-life-into-bodies-of-earthly-flesh-as-their/)

[Ramon Ravenswood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-ravenswood/)

> [You could be the leaf that never falls from the tree you could be the sun that never leaves the sky this might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/you-could-be-the-leaf-that-never-falls-from-the-tree-you-could-be-the/)

[David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/)

> [The problem with drinking and driving is that trees defend themselves very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-problem-with-drinking-and-driving-is-that-trees-defend-themselves/)

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

> [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/)

[Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/)

> [I liked climbing trees and could often be found up one reading a book. I played games with Dad and drew maps for him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhianna-pratchett/i-liked-climbing-trees-and-could-often-be-found-up-one-reading-a-book/)

[Rhianna Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhianna-pratchett/)

> [You never quite know what you do in life that leaves a seed behind that grows into an oak tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/you-never-quite-know-what-you-do-in-life-that-leaves-a-seed-behind/)

[Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/)

> [During my first years in the Sierra, I was ever calling on everybody within reach to admire them, but I found no one half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/during-my-first-years-in-the-sierra-i-was-ever-calling-on-everybody/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [He removed several pages of death certificates, which were picked up by another breeze and sent into the trees. Some would fall with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/he-removed-several-pages-of-death-certificates-which-were-picked-up/)

[Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/)

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