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
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.
In practice
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.'
A religion is a source of happiness and I would not deprive anyone of happiness. But it is a comfort appropriate for the weak, not for the strong--and you are strong. The great trouble with religion--any religion--is that the religionist, having accepted certain propositions by faith, cannot thereafter judge these propositions by evidence. One may bask at the warm fire of faith or choose to live in the bleak uncertainty of reason--but one cannot have both.
When you accept everything for what it is without labels you are outside of your ego.
Stripped of all its covering, the naked question is, whether ours is a federal or consolidated government; a constitutional or absolute one; a government resting solidly on the basis of the sovereignty of the States, or on the unrestrained will of a majority; a form of government, as in all other unlimited ones, in which injustice, violence, and force must ultimately prevail.
People don't realize that now is all there ever is; there is no past or future except as memory or anticipation in your mind.
All the religious wars that have caused blood to be shed for centuries arise from passionate feelings and facile counter-positions, such as Us and Them, good and bad, white and black.
I think that if there are positions that you can't argue... then the responsibility is probably to resign. If one's own conscience is opposed to the requirements and responsibilities of the job, then it's time to leave the job.
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