There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.
T. S. EliotRead
To country people Cows are mild, And flee from any stick they throw; But I’m a timid town bred child, And all the cattle seem to know.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the difference in perception of cows between rural and urban individuals, highlighting fear and unfamiliarity.
T. S. Eliot's quote illustrates the contrasting experiences between country folk and city dwellers. For country people, cows are seen as gentle creatures that instinctively avoid threats. In stark contrast, the speaker, a nervous child from the city, feels that the cattle are aware of their fear and respond to it. This emphasizes the theme of unfamiliarity and the anxiety that arises from encountering the natural world without prior experience.
Themes
CowsNatureFearCountryCity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the differences between rural and urban life.
More from T. S. Eliot
All quotes →Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm. But the harm does not interest them.
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I am an Anglo-Catholic in religion, a classicist in literature and a royalist in politics.
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If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?
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For I have known them all already, known them all— Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.
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In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing
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