Sweet peas should smell. Half the point of growing sweet peas is to cut them for the house; they should fill a room with an almost painful olfactory inarticulateness. But most sweet peas smell of nothing. This does not stop them being beautiful, but they are like food with no flavour.
Dublin dwindles so beautifully; there is no harsh separation between it and the country. It fades away, whereas London seems to devour the country; an army of buildings come and take away a beautiful park, and you never seem to get quite out of sight of a row of houses.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote contrasts the gentle fading of Dublin into its countryside with the overwhelming encroachment of London's urbanization.
George A. Moore's quote expresses a profound appreciation for the subtle beauty of Dublin, highlighting how the city seamlessly merges with the surrounding nature. In contrast, he critiques London for its aggressive urban expansion that encroaches upon and replaces natural spaces with buildings, creating a stark division between the city and the countryside. This reflection on the differing relationships between urban areas and nature prompts contemplation about the impact of urbanization on beauty and natural landscapes.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in discussions about urban planning and its impact on natural beauty.
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