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It was such a spring day as breathes into a man an ineffable yearning, a painful sweetness, a longing that makes him stand motionless, looking at the leaves or grass, and fling out his arms to embrace he knows not what.
John Galsworthy
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote expresses a deep emotional connection to the beauty of nature, evoking feelings of longing and wonder.

John Galsworthy's quote captures the essence of a spring day, highlighting the profound effect that nature can have on a person's emotions. It conveys a sense of yearning that arises from the beauty of the season, causing one to pause and reflect on the deeper meanings of life and existence. The imagery of standing still, observing the natural world, and feeling an inexplicable desire to connect with something greater reflects the universal human experience of feeling both joy and longing in the presence of nature.

Themes

NatureYearningLongingBeautySpring

In practice

Example use cases

During a nature retreat, I shared this quote to emphasize the beauty and emotions we experience in natural surroundings.

More from John Galsworthy

Love has no age, no limit; and no death.
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Dreaming is the poetry of Life, and we must be forgiven if we indulge in it a little.
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Idealism increases in direct proportion to one's distance from the problem.
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We are all familiar with the argument: Make war dreadful enough, and there will be no war. And we none of us believe it.
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From behind a wooden crate we saw a long black-muzzled nose poking round at us. We took him out-soft, wobbly, tearful; set him down on his four, as yet not quite simultaneous legs, and regarded him. He wandered a little round our legs, neither wagging his tail nor licking at our hands; then he looked up, and my companion said: "He's an angel!"
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By the cigars they smoke, and the composers they love, ye shall know the texture of men's souls.
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