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When it came night, the white waves paced to and fro in the moonlight, and the wind brought the sound of the great sea's voice to the men on shore, and they felt that they could then be interpreters.
Stephen Crane
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote describes how nature inspires understanding and connection among people.

In this quote, Stephen Crane paints a vivid picture of the night scene by the sea, highlighting how the interaction of waves and wind creates a profound sensory experience. The men on shore feel a deep connection to the ocean, as if they are being called to interpret its wisdom and messages, reflecting the idea that nature has a voice that can be understood and appreciated by humanity.

Themes

NatureOceanUnderstandingNightConnection

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used during a nature study lecture to emphasize the importance of connecting with the environment.

More from Stephen Crane

I saw a man pursuing the horizon
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Two or three angels Came near to the earth. They saw a fat church. Little black streams of people Came and went in continually. And the angels were puzzled To know why the people went thus, And why they stayed so long within.
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Sometimes, the most profound of awakenings come wrapped in the quietest of moments.
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Tell her this And more,— That the king of the seas Weeps too, old, helpless man. The bustling fates Heap his hands with corpses Until he stands like a child With surplus of toys.
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Over the river a golden ray of sun came through the hosts of leaden rain clouds.
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A singular disadvantage of the sea lies in the fact that after successfully surmounting one wave you discover another behind it just as important and just as nervously anxious to do something effective in the way of swamping boats. In a ten-foot dinghy one can get an idea of the resources of the sea in the line of waves that is not probable to the average experience, which is never at sea in a dinghy.
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