---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It seems that half the point of being in…"
description: "\"It seems that half the point of being in Miami Beach - particularly the northern end of South Beach - is to be observed by people-watchers like me, and..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/susan-orlean-2207_beach_it-seems-that-half-the-point-of-being-in_1755686.png"
---

#  It seems that half the point of being in Miami Beach…

![“It seems that half the point of being in Miami Beach - particularly the northern end of South Beach - is to be observed by people-watchers like me, and the display along Ocean Drive during my visit was, as always, sublime.” quote by Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/susan-orlean-2207_beach_it-seems-that-half-the-point-of-being-in_1755686.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/susan-orlean-2207_beach_it-seems-that-half-the-point-of-being-in_1755686.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/susan-orlean-2207_beach_it-seems-that-half-the-point-of-being-in_1755686.png)

> “It seems that half the point of being in Miami Beach - particularly the northern end of South Beach - is to be observed by people-watchers like me, and the display along Ocean Drive during my visit was, as always, sublime.”

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

## About This Quote

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

She observes that people watch others on Ocean Drive, finding the scene beautiful and noteworthy.

**In simple terms:** People enjoy watching beachgoers; she finds it beautiful.

Key Takeaway

Notice and appreciate everyday spectacles.

Themes

culture observation travel

Mood

reflective admiring

Type

cultural observational

When to use this quote

- tourism
- city walks
- photography
- social media

Key Concepts

aesthetic appreciation social dynamics urban life

Questions to Reflect On

- What does observing others reveal about ourselves?
- How does setting influence perception?

A Different Perspective

May ignore deeper social issues behind the spectacle.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Beach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beach/) [Beach Observed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beach-observed-1646222/) [Display](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/display/) [Display Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/display-ocean-1646225/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Miami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miami/) [Miami beach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miami-beach/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Ocean Drive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean-drive-1646223/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Point Miami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-miami-1646224/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [South](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south/) [South beach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-beach/) [Sublime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sublime/)

## Related quotes

> [“PhOne Number:352-587-2948 ADDRESS:407 Lincoln Rd. Suit 10g Miami Beach FL 33139 Miami Realtor, South Beach Realtor, Miami Beach Realto, Miami Real Estate Agent, Miami…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/businessman-company/phone-number-352-587-2948-address-407-lincoln-rd-suit-10g-miami-beach/)

[Businessman Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/businessman-company/)

> [Beach bum, call me ocean drive slim. Drop the top, look up and make the sky grin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/beach-bum-call-me-ocean-drive-slim-drop-the-top-look-up-and-make-the/)

[Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/)

> [Miami Beach - that's where I grew up, in a middle-class Jewish family led by my maternal grandfather. Me, my great-grandmother - a Holocaust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-ratner/miami-beach-that-s-where-i-grew-up-in-a-middle-class-jewish-family/)

[Brett Ratner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-ratner/)

> [I grew up in Florida, and my uncle used to work at the Miami Beach Convention Center in concessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-vontavious-porter/i-grew-up-in-florida-and-my-uncle-used-to-work-at-the-miami-beach/)

[Montel Vontavious Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-vontavious-porter/)

> [Miami Beach is where neon goes to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-bruce/miami-beach-is-where-neon-goes-to-die/)

[Lenny Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-bruce/)

> [It's definitely different than living in Los Angeles or Miami Beach, but Milwaukee is still a great city in its own right. As far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-yelich/it-s-definitely-different-than-living-in-los-angeles-or-miami-beach/)

[Christian Yelich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-yelich/)

> [I started taking ballet lessons when I was 4, and I was performing in ballet companies when I was 10, and I did summer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/i-started-taking-ballet-lessons-when-i-was-4-and-i-was-performing-in/)

[Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/)

> [Some folks like to get away Take a holiday from the neighborhood Hop a flight to Miami Beach Or to Hollywood But I'm talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/some-folks-like-to-get-away-take-a-holiday-from-the-neighborhood-hop/)

[Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/)

> [The thing that's really cool for me about Miami Beach is you have this dichotomy between sunlight and family and happiness and innocence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-glazer/the-thing-that-s-really-cool-for-me-about-miami-beach-is-you-have/)

[Mitch Glazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-glazer/)

> [I just love the weather. I live on Miami Beach, which is all boutique hotels and cocktails. I do sometimes go along to smart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-just-love-the-weather-i-live-on-miami-beach-which-is-all-boutique/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [I like to work out in the gym, but when I'm in Miami, it's all about the beach for exercise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ser-darius-blain/i-like-to-work-out-in-the-gym-but-when-i-m-in-miami-it-s-all-about/)

[Ser'Darius Blain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ser-darius-blain/)

> [“The Correspondence-School Instructor Says Goodbye to His Poetry Students Goodbye, lady in Bangor, who sent me snapshots of yourself, after definitely hinting you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galway-kinnell/the-correspondence-school-instructor-says-goodbye-to-his-poetry/)

[Galway Kinnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galway-kinnell/)

> [One of my favorite vacation places is Miami, because of the people, the water and the beach - of course - and the architecture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oksana-baiul/one-of-my-favorite-vacation-places-is-miami-because-of-the-people-the/)

[Oksana Baiul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oksana-baiul/)

> [I used to come to the gay pride parades in New York. I've been to a few down in Miami Beach, if memory serves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/i-used-to-come-to-the-gay-pride-parades-in-new-york-i-ve-been-to-a/)

[Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/)

> [“One of the finest quotes I ever overheard on the streets of Miami Beach was, 'He fucked me so hard my mother came.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leddick/one-of-the-finest-quotes-i-ever-overheard-on-the-streets-of-miami/)

[David Leddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leddick/)

## More by Susan Orlean

> [I've used Twitter now and again to try to figure something out; it's an amazing resource. But I think you have to use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-ve-used-twitter-now-and-again-to-try-to-figure-something-out-it-s/)

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

> [Who on earth is going to use 'utilize' in a text message, a whopping seven characters including the always-hard-to-type 'z,' when you can say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/who-on-earth-is-going-to-use-utilize-in-a-text-message-a-whopping/)

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

> [When my son was born, and after a day of lying-in I was told that I could leave the hospital and take him home,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/when-my-son-was-born-and-after-a-day-of-lying-in-i-was-told-that-i/)

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

> [I'm happy to be reminded that an ordinary day full of nothing but nothingness can make you feel like you've won the lottery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-m-happy-to-be-reminded-that-an-ordinary-day-full-of-nothing-but/)

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

> [I once had a boyfriend who couldn't write unless he was wearing a necktie and a dress shirt, which I thought was really weird,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-once-had-a-boyfriend-who-couldn-t-write-unless-he-was-wearing-a/)

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

> [“I, too, had set out to be remembered. I had wanted to create something permanent in my life- some proof that everything in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-too-had-set-out-to-be-remembered-i-had-wanted-to-create-something/)

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

> [I think of myself as something of a connoisseur of procrastination, creative and dogged in my approach to not getting things done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-think-of-myself-as-something-of-a-connoisseur-of-procrastination/)

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

> [I'm very excited about my new Spotify account, which gives me access to twenty gazillion songs any time, all the time. The day I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-m-very-excited-about-my-new-spotify-account-which-gives-me-access/)

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

> [I approach stories as a private educational enterprise: I want to learn about something. I teach myself through research, reporting, and thinking, and then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-approach-stories-as-a-private-educational-enterprise-i-want-to/)

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

> [We're fascinated by animals because it's almost like having Martians living among us. We can see some familiarity in them, but they're entirely different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/we-re-fascinated-by-animals-because-it-s-almost-like-having-martians/)

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

> [My inspiration is really very simple: I'm struck by things that I want to know more about. I really do react just as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/my-inspiration-is-really-very-simple-i-m-struck-by-things-that-i-want/)

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

> [I am dismayed to realize that much of the advice I used to parcel out to aspiring writers has passed its sell-by date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-am-dismayed-to-realize-that-much-of-the-advice-i-used-to-parcel-out/)

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

> [I wish I had coined the phrase 'tyranny of choice,' but someone beat me to it. The counterintuitive truth is that have an abundance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-wish-i-had-coined-the-phrase-tyranny-of-choice-but-someone-beat-me/)

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

> [My ace in the hole as a human being used to be my capacity for remembering birthdays. I worked at it. Whenever I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/my-ace-in-the-hole-as-a-human-being-used-to-be-my-capacity-for/)

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

> [Sometimes I think I've figured out some order in the universe, but then I find myself in Florida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/sometimes-i-think-i-ve-figured-out-some-order-in-the-universe-but/)

[Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

[Explore all 179 Susan Orlean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/)

## More Beach quotes

> [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/)

[Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/)

> [I love the sea, but I avoid any sort of seaside resort that has skyscrapers or seaside entertainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-blake/i-love-the-sea-but-i-avoid-any-sort-of-seaside-resort-that-has/)

[Quentin Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-blake/)

> [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

> [I've said many times before that Pebble Beach is a wonderful thinking-man's golf course. That is why it is such a great U.S. Open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-ve-said-many-times-before-that-pebble-beach-is-a-wonderful-thinking/)

[Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/)

> [Here about the beach I wandered, nourishing a youth sublime With the fairy tales of science, and the long result of Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/here-about-the-beach-i-wandered-nourishing-a-youth-sublime-with-the/)

[Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/)

> [I love going to the beach and just sitting and watching the sunset by myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tayshia-adams/i-love-going-to-the-beach-and-just-sitting-and-watching-the-sunset-by/)

[Tayshia Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tayshia-adams/)

> [Carolina beach music," Dupree said, coming up on the porch. "The holiest sound on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/carolina-beach-music-dupree-said-coming-up-on-the-porch-the-holiest/)

[Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/)

> [I like trekking and staying in tents, meeting new people and eating good food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tripti-dimri/i-like-trekking-and-staying-in-tents-meeting-new-people-and-eating/)

[Tripti Dimri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tripti-dimri/)

> [The biggest part of painting perhaps is faith, and waiting receptively, content to go any way, not planning or forcing. The fear, though, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/the-biggest-part-of-painting-perhaps-is-faith-and-waiting-receptively/)

[Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/)

> [If I'm on holiday, I'm active on the beach, I play tennis, I run, I swim a lot. It's just about making the workouts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candice-swanepoel/if-i-m-on-holiday-i-m-active-on-the-beach-i-play-tennis-i-run-i-swim/)

[Candice Swanepoel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candice-swanepoel/)

> [The holy grail is right here in this gem of a book. Tosha Silver’s wisdom goes down as easy as a mint milkshake and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-rankin/the-holy-grail-is-right-here-in-this-gem-of-a-book-tosha-silver-s/)

[Lissa Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-rankin/)

> [Couples without kids have each other, their friends, families, and Siri to talk to. It's not like they're quarantining themselves in an underground bunker,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-kirkman/couples-without-kids-have-each-other-their-friends-families-and-siri/)

[Jen Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-kirkman/)

> [They had me doing Beach Boys remakes and all that. I was basically a marionette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leif-garrett/they-had-me-doing-beach-boys-remakes-and-all-that-i-was-basically-a/)

[Leif Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leif-garrett/)

> [When did an old white guy yelling at me, telling me what to think become news? What gives him the right to tell me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-ling/when-did-an-old-white-guy-yelling-at-me-telling-me-what-to-think/)

[Lisa Ling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-ling/)

> [Yes, there was one thing that I missed not being able to do - walk on a beach. I've always had this romantic image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/yes-there-was-one-thing-that-i-missed-not-being-able-to-do-walk-on-a/)

[Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/)

[Browse all 2,185 Beach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beach/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It seems that half the point of being in Miami Beach - particularly the northern end of South Beach - is to be observed by people-watchers like me, and the display along Ocean Drive during my visit was, as always, sublime.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Susan Orlean"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/it-seems-that-half-the-point-of-being-in-miami-beach-particularly-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Beach"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/it-seems-that-half-the-point-of-being-in-miami-beach-particularly-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/susan-orlean-2207_beach_it-seems-that-half-the-point-of-being-in_1755686.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/susan-orlean-2207_beach_it-seems-that-half-the-point-of-being-in_1755686.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e8/susan-orlean-2207_beach_it-seems-that-half-the-point-of-being-in_1755686.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It seems that half the point of being in Miami Beach - particularly the northern end of South Beach - is to…” — Susan Orlean",
                "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": "Susan Orlean",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It seems that half the point...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/it-seems-that-half-the-point-of-being-in-miami-beach-particularly-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/it-seems-that-half-the-point-of-being-in-miami-beach-particularly-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
