They are all alike you know. They hold their tongues for years and you think you're safe, but when the opportunity comes they remember everything.
Edith WhartonRead
It is the omnipresent rush of water which give the Este Gardens their peculiar character. From the Anio, drawn up the hillside at incalculable cost and labour, a thousand rills gush downward, terrace by terrace, channeling the stone rails of the balusters, leaping from step to step, dripping into mossy conches, flashing in spray from the horns of sea-gods and the jaws of mythical monsters, or forcing themselves in irrepressible overflow down the ivy-matted banks.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote describes how water shapes the unique beauty of the Este Gardens through its dynamic flow.
In this vivid description by Edith Wharton, the flow of water in the Este Gardens is portrayed as a vital and dynamic force that contributes to the gardens' distinctive character. The imagery of water rising, cascading, and interacting with the surrounding stone and foliage illustrates the intricate and labor-intensive process involved in creating such a lush, vibrant environment. Water is depicted not just as a natural element, but as a powerful creative force, essential for both beauty and life in the gardens.
Themes
WaterNatureGardensBeautyFlowLandscaping
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a presentation about landscape design to emphasize the importance of water features.
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As he paid the hansom and followed his wife's long train into the house he took refuge in the comforting platitude that the first six months were always the most difficult in marriage. 'After that I suppose we shall have pretty nearly finished rubbing off each other’s angles,' he reflected; but the worst of it was that May's pressure was already bearing on the very angles whose sharpness he most wanted to keep
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There are two ways to spread happiness; either be the light who shines it or be the mirror who reflects it.
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