If you have the guts to be yourself, other people'll pay your price.
John UpdikeRead
The crooked little tomato branches, pulpy and pale as if made of cheap green paper, broke under the weight of so much fruit; there was something frantic in such fertility, a crying-out like that of children frantic to please.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the overwhelming abundance of nature and the emotional turmoil it can evoke.
In this vivid depiction, John Updike highlights the paradox of nature's fertility, illustrating how the sheer weight of abundance can lead to a sense of chaos and desperation. The imagery of the 'crooked little tomato branches' conveys both fragility and a compelling urgency, likening the plants' struggle to the desperate pleas of children aiming to succeed. This connection emphasizes the raw and sometimes frantic energy inherent in the process of growth and the pressures that accompany overwhelming success.
Themes
NatureAbundanceGrowthFertilityEmotions
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be included in a speech about the wonders of gardening and the beauty of nature's cycles.
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The reader knows the writer better than he knows himself; but the writer's physical presence is light from a star that has moved on.
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To guarantee the individual maximum freedom within a social frame of minimal laws ensures - if not happiness - its hopeful pursuit.
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