Autumn clouds, vague and obscure; The evening, lonely and chill. I felt the dampness on my garments, But saw no spot, and heard no sound of rain.
Bai JuyiRead
A little child paddles a little boat, Drifting about, and picking white lotuses. He does not know how to hide his tracks, And duckweed's opened up along his path.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the carefree innocence of childhood and the beauty of nature.
In this imagery-filled quote by Bai Juyi, a child is depicted as blissfully navigating a small boat while collecting white lotuses, symbolizing purity and simplicity. The child's lack of awareness about leaving traces of his journey emphasizes the freedom and innocence of youth, as well as the transient beauty of nature that he interacts with, thereby encouraging a connection with the natural world untainted by the complexities of adult life.
Themes
ChildhoodNatureInnocenceBeautyFreedom
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about the importance of preserving nature, this quote can illustrate the innocence we often lose as we grow up.
More from Bai Juyi
All quotes βTwo monks sit facing, playing chess on the mountain, The bamboo shadow on the board is dark and clear. Not a person sees the bamboo's shadow, One sometimes hears the pieces being moved.
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A strip of water's spread in the setting sun, Half the river's emerald, half is red. I love the third night of the ninth month, The dew is like a pearl; the moon like a bow.
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