Everybody must be managed. Queens must be managed. Kings must be managed, for men want managing almost as much as women, and that's saying a good deal.
Thomas HardyRead
The trees have inquisitive eyes, haven't they? -that is, seem as if they had. And the river says,-'Why do ye trouble me with your looks?' And you seem to see numbers of to-morrows just all in a line, the first of them the biggest and clearest, the others getting smaller and smaller as they stand further away; but they all seem very fierce and cruel and as if they said, 'I'm coming! Beware of me! Beware of me!
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the anthropomorphism of nature, suggesting that trees and rivers have their own perspectives and emotions, and highlights our tendency to project our fears onto the future.
In this quote by Thomas Hardy, nature is portrayed with human-like characteristics, emphasizing the idea that trees seem to observe us and rivers express discomfort with our gaze. The mention of 'to-morrows' suggests an anxiety about the future, where each day brings an increasing sense of foreboding and challenge. This conveys a deeper existential reflection on how we perceive our environment and the weight of our concerns as they cascade into the future.
Themes
NatureFutureTreesRiverFear
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about the importance of connecting with nature, one might quote this to emphasize how we project our inner feelings onto the natural world.
More from Thomas Hardy
All quotes →Because what's the use of learning that I am one of a long row only - finding out that there is set down in some old book somebody just like me, and to know that I shall only act her part; making me sad, that's all. The best is not to remember your nature and your past doings have been just like thousands' and thousands', and that your coming life and doings'll be like thousands' and thousands'.
Thomas HardyRead
But nothing is more insidious than the evolution of wishes from mere fancies, and of wants from mere wishes.
Thomas HardyRead
I wish I had never been born--there or anywhere else.
Thomas HardyRead
Her affection for him was now the breath and life of Tess's being; it enveloped her as a photosphere, irradiated her into forgetfulness of her past sorrows, keeping back the gloomy spectres that would persist in their attempts to touch her—doubt, fear, moodiness, care, shame. She knew that they were waiting like wolves just outside the circumscribing light, but she had long spells of power to keep them in hungry subjection there.
Thomas HardyRead
Of course poets have morals and manners of their own, and custom is no argument with them.
Thomas HardyRead
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