An aged man is but a paltry thing, a tattered coat upon a stick
William Butler YeatsRead
It is not the walls that make the city, but the people who live within them. The walls of London may be battered, but the spirit of the Londoner stands resolute and undismayed.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A city's essence comes from its inhabitants rather than its physical structures.
This quote emphasizes the idea that the true identity and strength of a city lie in its people, not just in its buildings or infrastructure. George VI highlights the resilience of the Londoner, suggesting that despite the city's physical challenges, the spirit and character of the people endure and define the city itself.
Themes
CityPeopleSpiritResilienceCommunity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about urban development, one might say, 'Remember, it is not the walls that make the city, but the people who live within them.'
Similar quotes
I was brought up in a Jewish home, but I was brought up to be human - not fanatical, which is something that I don't appreciate at all. I learned to become a humanist and not to dwell on the differences between Jews and Christians.
Marcel MarceauRead
Utility is the great idol of the age, to which all powers must do service and all talents swear allegiance.
Friedrich SchillerRead
Historical capitalism is a materialist civilization.
Immanuel WallersteinRead
When you look at the stars and the galaxy, you feel that you are not just from any particular piece of land, but from the solar system.
Kalpana ChawlaRead
However, if "free choice" means more than a small selection between pre-established necessities, and if the inclinations and impulses used in work are other than those preshaped by a repressive reality principle, then satisfaction in daily work is only a rare privilege.
Herbert MarcuseRead