--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Seven Cities was an ancient civilization…" description: "\"“Seven Cities was an ancient civilization, steeped in the power of antiquity, where Ascendants once walked on every trader track, every footpath, every..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/steven-erikson-588_journey_seven-cities-was-an-ancient-civilization_421900.jpg" --- # Seven Cities was an ancient civilization, steeped in the… ![“Seven Cities was an ancient civilization, steeped in the power of antiquity, where Ascendants once walked on every trader track, every footpath, every lost road between forgotten places. It was said the sands hoarded power within their sussurating currents, that every stone had soaked up sorcery…” quote by Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/steven-erikson-588_journey_seven-cities-was-an-ancient-civilization_421900.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/steven-erikson-588_journey_seven-cities-was-an-ancient-civilization_421900.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/steven-erikson-588_journey_seven-cities-was-an-ancient-civilization_421900.jpg) > ““Seven Cities was an ancient civilization, steeped in the power of antiquity, where Ascendants once walked on every trader track, every footpath, every lost road between forgotten places. It was said the sands hoarded power within their sussurating currents, that every stone had soaked up sorcery like blood, and that beneath every city lay the ruins of countless other cities, older cities, cities that went back to the First Empire itself. It was said each city rose on the backs of ghosts, the substance of spirits thick like layers of crushed bone; that each city forever wept beneath the streets, forever laughed, shouted, hawked wares and bartered and prayed and drew first breaths that brought life and the last breaths that announced death. Beneath the streets there were dreams, wisdom, foolishness, fears, rage, grief, lust and love and bitter hatred.”” [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cities are layered with histories, spirits, and emotions, reflecting humanity’s complex legacy. **In simple terms:** Places hold many stories. Key Takeaway Respect the past while building future. Themes history spirituality memory citylife mythology Mood mysterious poetic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - archaeology - urban planning - cultural heritage - storytelling Key Concepts layered narratives collective memory ancient power Questions to Reflect On - What can modern societies learn from forgotten histories? - How do spirits shape cultural identity? A Different Perspective Romanticizing ruins can ignore present needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Lust And Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lust-and-love/) ## Related quotes > [I hear Seven Cities natives grow fruit just so they can eat the larvae in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/i-hear-seven-cities-natives-grow-fruit-just-so-they-can-eat-the/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [YOUTH, n. The Period of Possibility, when Archimedes finds a fulcrum, Cassandra has a following and seven cities compete for the honor of endowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/youth-n-the-period-of-possibility-when-archimedes-finds-a-fulcrum-2/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Seven cities warred for Homer, being dead, Who, living, had no roof to shroud his head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-heywood/seven-cities-warred-for-homer-being-dead-who-living-had-no-roof-to/) [Thomas Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-heywood/) > [We will cry and bleed and lust and love, and we will cure death. We will be the cure. Because we want it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-marion/we-will-cry-and-bleed-and-lust-and-love-and-we-will-cure-death-we/) [Isaac Marion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-marion/) > [It is the difference betwixt lust and love that this is fixed, that volatile. Love grows, lust wastes by enjoyment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/it-is-the-difference-betwixt-lust-and-love-that-this-is-fixed-that/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [“unselfish thought; not a word. Tom, Tom! The man in all this world most confident in his sagacity and shrewdness; the man in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/unselfish-thought-not-a-word-tom-tom-the-man-in-all-this-world-most/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“Don't get the words LUST and LOVE confused the only things the two words have in common is that they both begin with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teisha-d-hines/don-t-get-the-words-lust-and-love-confused-the-only-things-the-two/) [Teisha D Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teisha-d-hines/) > [“When you are secure in yourself, know what turns you on, and enjoy watching your partner watch you experience sexual pleasure, you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-katehakis/when-you-are-secure-in-yourself-know-what-turns-you-on-and-enjoy/) [Alexandra Katehakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-katehakis/) > [“We have big plans. Oh yes. We're fumbling in the dark, but at least we're in motion. Everyone is working now; Julie and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-marion/we-have-big-plans-oh-yes-we-re-fumbling-in-the-dark-but-at-least-we/) [Isaac Marion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-marion/) > [“Wanderlust is like itchy feet. It’s when you can’t settle down. But Wanderlove is much deeper than that . . . it’s a compulsion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-hubbard/wanderlust-is-like-itchy-feet-it-s-when-you-can-t-settle-down-but/) [Kirsten Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-hubbard/) > [“Addiction" might be the best word to explain the lostness that so deeply permeates society. Our addiction make us cling to what the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/addiction-might-be-the-best-word-to-explain-the-lostness-that-so/) [Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/) > [“She gave him a happy look as he followed her out on the water-soaked wooden walk. "This could be fun," she said, then turned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/she-gave-him-a-happy-look-as-he-followed-her-out-on-the-water-soaked/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [There is a big difference between lust and love. The problem with today is that some people don't know the difference anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhat/there-is-a-big-difference-between-lust-and-love-the-problem-with/) [Zhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhat/) > [“For Plato, the quickening of the heart that occurred when a person saw his or her loved one was just a step in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-amidon/for-plato-the-quickening-of-the-heart-that-occurred-when-a-person-saw/) Stephen Amidon > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## More by Steven Erikson > [“No matter, they weren’t going anywhere. Never again. Two skeletons buried beneath a dead city. No more fitting a barrow for a warrior of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/no-matter-they-weren-t-going-anywhere-never-again-two-skeletons/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“I was reminded ... the way that wood crumbles into dissolution.’ ‘The release of energy. Perhaps a better way of seeing it.’ ‘Such release…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/i-was-reminded-the-way-that-wood-crumbles-into-dissolution-the/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“I am here to arrest your manservant. The one named Bugg.’ ‘Oh, now really, his cooking isn’t that bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/i-am-here-to-arrest-your-manservant-the-one-named-bugg-oh-now-really/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [The more civilized a nation, the more conformed its population, until that civilization's last age arrives, when multiplicity wages war with conformity. The former…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/the-more-civilized-a-nation-the-more-conformed-its-population-until/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“People in great need were quick to find blame in themselves, quick to assume the burden of guilt for things they in truth had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/people-in-great-need-were-quick-to-find-blame-in-themselves-quick-to/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“Envy shrugged. 'Can no value be found in good intentions?' 'What, precisely, are you trying to justify? And to me, or yourself?' She glared,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/envy-shrugged-can-no-value-be-found-in-good-intentions-what-precisely/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [Any reasonable ruler would have the expectation and the demand the other way round.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/any-reasonable-ruler-would-have-the-expectation-and-the-demand-the/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“The existance of many gods conveys true complexity of mortal life. Conversely, the assertion of but one god leads to a denial of complexity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/the-existance-of-many-gods-conveys-true-complexity-of-mortal-life/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“All right, shadow-priest, you've been spying — on what? What state secrets have you learned watching me groom these horses?' 'Only that they hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/all-right-shadow-priest-you-ve-been-spying-on-what-what-state-secrets/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“There is nothing wrong with where we are, how we are. You spit on satisfaction, leaving you always unsettled and miserable. I am a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/there-is-nothing-wrong-with-where-we-are-how-we-are-you-spit-on/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“Why do I hate spiders? Gods, who doesn't? What a stupid question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/why-do-i-hate-spiders-gods-who-doesn-t-what-a-stupid-question/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [It is an extraordinary act of courage,' said Tulas Shorn, 'to come to know a stranger's pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/it-is-an-extraordinary-act-of-courage-said-tulas-shorn-to-come-to/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“I admit,’ said Spite, ‘to a certain melancholy when visiting vibrant cities, as is this Darujhistan. A long life teaches one just how ephemeral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/i-admit-said-spite-to-a-certain-melancholy-when-visiting-vibrant/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [All art is an intensely vulnerable gesture, and it is made with no small amounts of risk, and fear. So, I have plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/all-art-is-an-intensely-vulnerable-gesture-and-it-is-made-with-no/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“People who make up their minds about something never listen to advice - especially when it's to the contrary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/people-who-make-up-their-minds-about-something-never-listen-to-advice/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) [Explore all 452 Steven Erikson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) ## More Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [All the stories I have told you are finally as useless as all ancient knowledge is to man and to us. Its images and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/all-the-stories-i-have-told-you-are-finally-as-useless-as-all-ancient/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [So what if I'm ninety-three? So what if I'm ancient and cranky and my body's a wreck? If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [Science has revealed a universe that is vast, ancient, violent, strange, and beautiful, a universe of almost infinite variety and possibility one in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/science-has-revealed-a-universe-that-is-vast-ancient-violent-strange/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) [Browse all 2,415 Ancient quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Seven Cities was an ancient civilization, steeped in the power of antiquity, where Ascendants once walked on every trader track, every footpath, every lost road between forgotten places. It was said the sands hoarded power within their sussurating currents, that every stone had soaked up sorcery like blood, and that beneath every city lay the ruins of countless other cities, older cities, cities that went back to the First Empire itself. It was said each city rose on the backs of ghosts, the substance of spirits thick like layers of crushed bone; that each city forever wept beneath the streets, forever laughed, shouted, hawked wares and bartered and prayed and drew first breaths that brought life and the last breaths that announced death. Beneath the streets there were dreams, wisdom, foolishness, fears, rage, grief, lust and love and bitter hatred.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Erikson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/seven-cities-was-an-ancient-civilization-steeped-in-the-power-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ancient" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/seven-cities-was-an-ancient-civilization-steeped-in-the-power-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/steven-erikson-588_journey_seven-cities-was-an-ancient-civilization_421900.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/steven-erikson-588_journey_seven-cities-was-an-ancient-civilization_421900.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/steven-erikson-588_journey_seven-cities-was-an-ancient-civilization_421900.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Seven Cities was an ancient civilization, steeped in the power of antiquity, where Ascendants once walked on…” — Steven Erikson", "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": "Steven Erikson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Seven Cities was an ancient civilization,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/seven-cities-was-an-ancient-civilization-steeped-in-the-power-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/seven-cities-was-an-ancient-civilization-steeped-in-the-power-of/#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 } } ] } ```