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I love the word Quetzalcoatl.' 'The word!' he repeated…

“I love the word Quetzalcoatl.' 'The word!' he repeated. His eyes laughed at her teasingly all the time. 'What do you think, Mrs Leslie,' cried the pale-faced young Mirabal, in curiously resonant English, with a French accent. 'Don't you think it would be wonderful if the gods came back to Mexico?…” quote by D.H. Lawrence
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““I love the word Quetzalcoatl.' 'The word!' he repeated. His eyes laughed at her teasingly all the time. 'What do you think, Mrs Leslie,' cried the pale-faced young Mirabal, in curiously resonant English, with a French accent. 'Don't you think it would be wonderful if the gods came back to Mexico? our own gods?' He sat in intense expectation, his blue eyes fixed on Kate's face, his soup-spoon suspended. Kate's face was baffled with incomprehension. 'Not those Aztec horrors!' she said. 'The Aztec horrors! The Aztec horrors! Well, perhaps they were not so horrible after all. But if they were, it was because the Aztecs were all tied up. They were in a cul de sac, so they saw nothing but death. Don't you think so?' 'I don't know enough!' said Kate. 'Nobody knows any more. But if you like the word Quetzalcoatl, don't you think it would be wonderful if he came back again? Ah, the names of the gods! Don't you think the names are like seeds, so full of magic, of the unexplored magic? Huitzilopochtli!--how wonderful! And Tlaloc! Ah! I love them! I say them over and over, like they say Mani padma Om! in Tibet. I believe in the fertility of sound. Itzpapalotl--the Obsidian Butterfly! Itzpapalotl! But say it, and you will see it does good to your soul. Itzpapalotl! Tezcatlipocá! They were old when the Spaniards came, they needed the bath of life again. But now, re-bathed in youth, how wonderful they must be!””

D.H. Lawrence

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The passage celebrates the power of ancient names and sounds to evoke wonder, mystery, and a sense of renewal, suggesting language can be magical and transformative.

In simple terms: Ancient names and sounds can feel magical and renewing.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the wonder of language and myth.

Themes

mythology language wonder renewal creativity

Mood

playful curious inspirational

Type

literary philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • reading literature
  • studying mythology
  • creative writing
  • personal meditation
  • cultural exploration

Key Concepts

symbolism sound magic cultural memory

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does naming influence perception of the divine?
  • Can sound truly affect the soul?
A Different Perspective

The whimsical tone may obscure deeper cultural sensitivities or historical accuracy.

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