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About this quote

What does it mean?
Rilke says modern urban life disconnects people from the earth, leaving them hovering without a place to settle.
In plain terms
City dwellers feel detached from nature and lack grounding.
What can you take from it?
Urbanization can cause a sense of rootlessness.

Where it applies

  • city planning
  • philosophical essay

Putting it to work

  • create green spaces
  • encourage community roots

Questions to consider

  • How can cities foster a sense of belonging?
  • What practices reconnect people to nature?

Another view

The metaphor may not apply to all urban experiences.

More from Rainer Maria Rilke

  1. Du im Voraus verlorne Geliebte, Nimmergekommene, nicht wei? ich, welche Tone dir lieb sind. Nicht mehr versuch ich, dich, wenn das Kommende wogt, zu erkennen.

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  2. Ach, die Garten bist du, ach, ich sah sie mit solcher Hoffnung. Ein offenes Fenster im Landhaus-, und du tratest beinahe mir nachdenklich heran. Gassen fand ic…

    Permalink to quote #3
  3. Schon ist mein Blick am Hugel, dem besonnten, dem Wege, den ich kaum begann, voran. So fasst uns das, was wir nicht fassen konnten, voller Erscheinung, aus der…

    Permalink to quote #4

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