The minute a person whose word means a great deal to others dare to take the open-hearted and courageous way, many others follow.
Marian AndersonRead
World, they have taken the small children like butterflies and thrown them, beating their wings, into the fire--
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the suffering of innocent children and the destructive forces they face in the world.
Nelly Sachs' poignant imagery likens children to butterflies, symbolizing their innocence and fragility, while also illustrating the cruel reality of their suffering. The metaphor of being thrown into the fire conveys the harshness of violence and adversity that can extinguish their light and potential.
Themes
ChildrenSufferingInnocenceViolenceMetaphor
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech to raise awareness about childhood trauma, one might reference this quote to emphasize the importance of protecting the vulnerable.
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