--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And the City, in its own way, gets down…" description: "\"“And the City, in its own way, gets down for you, cooperates, smoothing its sidewalks, correcting its curbstones, offering you melons and green apples ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/toni-morrison-271_dark-place_and-the-city-in-its-own-way-gets-down-fo_2154325.jpg" --- # And the City, in its own way, gets down for you… ![“And the City, in its own way, gets down for you, cooperates, smoothing its sidewalks, correcting its curbstones, offering you melons and green apples on the corner. Racks of yellow head scarves; strings of Egyptian beads. Kansas fried chicken and something with raisins call attention to an open…” quote by Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/toni-morrison-271_dark-place_and-the-city-in-its-own-way-gets-down-fo_2154325.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/toni-morrison-271_dark-place_and-the-city-in-its-own-way-gets-down-fo_2154325.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/toni-morrison-271_dark-place_and-the-city-in-its-own-way-gets-down-fo_2154325.jpg) > ““And the City, in its own way, gets down for you, cooperates, smoothing its sidewalks, correcting its curbstones, offering you melons and green apples on the corner. Racks of yellow head scarves; strings of Egyptian beads. Kansas fried chicken and something with raisins call attention to an open window where the aroma seems to lurk. And if that's not enough, doors to speakeasies stand ajar and in that cool dark place a clarinet coughs and clears its throat waiting for the woman to decide on the key. She makes up her mind and as you pass by informs your back that she is daddy's little angel child. The City is smart at this: smelling and good and looking raunchy; sending secret messages disguised as public signs: this way, open here, danger to let colored only single men on sale woman wanted private room stop dog on premises absolutely no money down fresh chicken free delivery fast. And good at opening locks, dimming stairways. Covering your moans with its own.”” [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Urban life offers hidden opportunities and challenges, blending mundane details with deeper cultural messages. **In simple terms:** Cities hide clues and temptations. Key Takeaway Observe surroundings for subtle signals. Themes urban life culture perception Mood curious thoughtful Type literary descriptive When to use this quote - travel - exploration - social interaction - finding hidden meaning Key Concepts symbolism social commentary Questions to Reflect On - What unnoticed details shape your city experience? - How do you decode urban symbols? A Different Perspective Interpretation can be subjective and may miss intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Little angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-angel/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Single men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-men/) ## Related quotes > [“Little of that makes for love, but it does pump desire. The woman who churned a man's blood as she leaned all alone on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/little-of-that-makes-for-love-but-it-does-pump-desire-the-woman-who/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“In 2009 Miley Cyrus made a rap video about quitting social media saying she wanted to ‘keep my private life private’. She returned 17…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-boniface/in-2009-miley-cyrus-made-a-rap-video-about-quitting-social-media/) [Susie Boniface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-boniface/) > [I never wanted my private and public life to mix as much as they did when I got divorced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-evans/i-never-wanted-my-private-and-public-life-to-mix-as-much-as-they-did/) [Sara Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-evans/) > [I just wanted to have a private life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia/i-just-wanted-to-have-a-private-life/) [Sia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia/) > [I wanted my private life to be private. I just wanted to be a fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fallon-fox/i-wanted-my-private-life-to-be-private-i-just-wanted-to-be-a-fighter/) [Fallon Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fallon-fox/) > [When you admit that you are married, people try to get skeletons out of your closet. They dig into your personal lives and link…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roop-durgapal/when-you-admit-that-you-are-married-people-try-to-get-skeletons-out/) [Roop Durgapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roop-durgapal/) > [The reason why I've been keeping private for the longest time ever here, I've always wanted to protect my wife's privacy. I don't like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schiavo/the-reason-why-i-ve-been-keeping-private-for-the-longest-time-ever/) [Michael Schiavo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schiavo/) > [My fans do guarantee me a good opening on the day my film releases. So the responsibility is more on me on doing quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudeep/my-fans-do-guarantee-me-a-good-opening-on-the-day-my-film-releases-so/) [Sudeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudeep/) > [I'm not good at opening up with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige/i-m-not-good-at-opening-up-with-people/) Paige > [A good opening stand is always crucial for a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sourav-ganguly/a-good-opening-stand-is-always-crucial-for-a-team/) [Sourav Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sourav-ganguly/) > [There are all sorts of theories and ideas about what constitutes a good opening line. It's tricky thing, and tough to talk about because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/there-are-all-sorts-of-theories-and-ideas-about-what-constitutes-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Sometimes making people laugh or even making them scared can be accomplished by a good opening sequence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-cooper/sometimes-making-people-laugh-or-even-making-them-scared-can-be/) Kyle Cooper > [“The important thing to remember about presenting this opening question is that it cannot be vague. Readers have to understand enough about the situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-important-thing-to-remember-about-presenting-this-opening/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A good opening and a good ending make for a good film provide they come close together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/a-good-opening-and-a-good-ending-make-for-a-good-film-provide-they/) [Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/) > [It feels really good to give back. I'm opening the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness Centre in Australia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/it-feels-really-good-to-give-back-i-m-opening-the-olivia-newton-john/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) ## More by Toni Morrison > [Perhaps that's what all human relationships boiled down to: Would you save my life? or would you take it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/perhaps-that-s-what-all-human-relationships-boiled-down-to-would-you/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [In times of dread, artists must never choose to remain silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/in-times-of-dread-artists-must-never-choose-to-remain-silent/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Not know it was hard;knowing it was harder”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/not-know-it-was-hard-knowing-it-was-harder/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Didn’t everything on God’s earth have or acquire defense?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/didn-t-everything-on-god-s-earth-have-or-acquire-defense/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [If you can't count, they can cheat you. If you can't read, they can beat you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/if-you-can-t-count-they-can-cheat-you-if-you-can-t-read-they-can-beat/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“You looked at them and wondered why the were so ugly; you looked closely and could not find the source. Then you realized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/you-looked-at-them-and-wondered-why-the-were-so-ugly-you-looked/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [All she saw, down in the cellar well beneath the stoop, was a light yellow feather with a tip of green. And she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/all-she-saw-down-in-the-cellar-well-beneath-the-stoop-was-a-light/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [For me, Art is the restoration of order. It may discuss all sort of terrible things, but there must be satisfaction at the end.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/for-me-art-is-the-restoration-of-order-it-may-discuss-all-sort-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“To Sethe, the future was a matter of keeping the past at bay”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/to-sethe-the-future-was-a-matter-of-keeping-the-past-at-bay/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Hate does that. Burns off everything but itself, so whatever your grievance is, your face looks just like your enemy's.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/hate-does-that-burns-off-everything-but-itself-so-whatever-your/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“You know how a star is supposed to twinkle? We say twinkle because that is how it looks, but when a star feels itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/you-know-how-a-star-is-supposed-to-twinkle-we-say-twinkle-because/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“There is no bad luck in the world but whitefolks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-is-no-bad-luck-in-the-world-but-whitefolks/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [My father saw two black men lynched on his street in Cartersville, as a child. And I think seeing two black businessmen - not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/my-father-saw-two-black-men-lynched-on-his-street-in-cartersville-as/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“She was fierce in the presence of death, heroic even, as she was at no other time. Its threat gave her direction, clarity, audacity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/she-was-fierce-in-the-presence-of-death-heroic-even-as-she-was-at-no/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) [Explore all 774 Toni Morrison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## More Dark place quotes > [All comedy comes from a dark place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katt-williams/all-comedy-comes-from-a-dark-place/) [Katt Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katt-williams/) > [Social media has become a dark place, and the sites need to clean up their act if they want people to keep using them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-reid/social-media-has-become-a-dark-place-and-the-sites-need-to-clean-up/) [Susanna Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-reid/) > [“Hope brings light into dark places.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/hope-brings-light-into-dark-places/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“I see now that when Norma flowered in our garden I became a weed, allowed to exist only where I would not be seen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/i-see-now-that-when-norma-flowered-in-our-garden-i-became-a-weed/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) > [“In the middle of the cemetery is a grassy plane, strangely vacant. There are no granite tombs or crumbling concrete, just a sun-washed treeless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-caldwell-crosby/in-the-middle-of-the-cemetery-is-a-grassy-plane-strangely-vacant/) Molly Caldwell Crosby > [“Sometimes people walk away from love because it is so beautiful that it terrifies them. Sometimes they leave because the connection shines a bright…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-brown/sometimes-people-walk-away-from-love-because-it-is-so-beautiful-that/) [Jeff Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-brown/) > [Being a correspondent at the Vietnam war for me was about exposing myself to danger but it wasn't completely self-serving. I felt that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-caputo/being-a-correspondent-at-the-vietnam-war-for-me-was-about-exposing/) [Philip Caputo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-caputo/) > [“If you're going into a dark place... you should take a bright light, and shine it on everything. If you don't want to see,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/if-you-re-going-into-a-dark-place-you-should-take-a-bright-light-and/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Sometimes your destiny takes you to dark places where you'd rather not be, but destiny, as they say, is destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/sometimes-your-destiny-takes-you-to-dark-places-where-you-d-rather/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [When you're writing in first person, like I do, you can't give a fluffy version of someone's thoughts because even the most prudish woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-o-porter/when-you-re-writing-in-first-person-like-i-do-you-can-t-give-a-fluffy/) [Dawn O'Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-o-porter/) > ['This will pass and it always does.' I consistently have to keep telling myself that because being an entrepreneur means that you go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/majora-carter/this-will-pass-and-it-always-does-i-consistently-have-to-keep-telling/) [Majora Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/majora-carter/) > [“Don’t be afraid of your dark places,” Mom told her. “If you can shine a light on them, you’ll find treasure there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/don-t-be-afraid-of-your-dark-places-mom-told-her-if-you-can-shine-a/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [“Yes, for every child, rich or poor, there's a time of running through a dark place; and there's no word for a child's fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agee/yes-for-every-child-rich-or-poor-there-s-a-time-of-running-through-a/) [James Agee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agee/) > [The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-world-is-indeed-full-of-peril-and-in-it-there-are-many-dark/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All I would say is that when I've been very down or having kind of a tough time in my life, certain films or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-friend/all-i-would-say-is-that-when-i-ve-been-very-down-or-having-kind-of-a/) [Rupert Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-friend/) Browse all 410 Dark place quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And the City, in its own way, gets down for you, cooperates, smoothing its sidewalks, correcting its curbstones, offering you melons and green apples on the corner. 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