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Meaning
The quote uses lichens as an example of survival without ambition. It suggests that being durable and successful does not require striving for status or achievement. The contrast between toughness and modesty gives the line its point.
When It Was Said
Not documented yet.
Who It Was Said To
Not documented yet.
Historical Context
Not documented yet.
Source
A Short History of Nearly Everything: 2.0 (2025)
Original Language & Translation
Originally said in English.
Did They Really Say It?
The phrase appears in the book "A Short History of Nearly Everything: 2.0 (2025)" by Bill Bryson (Google Books snippet); no earlier source was checked.
Did You Know?
Not documented yet.
About Bill Bryson
American journalist and author, naturalized British citizen in 2014
Bill Bryson is an American journalist and author, born in the United States and naturalized as a British citizen in 2014. He is known for nonfiction writing on travel, the English language, and science. He moved to Britain in his twenties and spent most of his adult life there, though he also returned to the United States for periods, including 1995 to 2003. From 2005 to 2011, he served as chancellor of Durham University. His books often explore everyday life, language, and the natural world with clarity and wit.
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READ THE SOURCE
Books by Bill Bryson
A short history of nearly everything
2003
A Walk in the Woods
2015
At Home
2016
Shakespeare
2007
The Body
2021