I have been thinking about living like the lilies that…
““I have been thinking about living like the lilies that blow in the fields. They rise and fall in the wedge of the wind, and have no shelter from the tongues of the cattle, and have no closets or cupboards, and have no legs. Still I would like to be as wonderful as that old idea. But if I were a lily I think I would wait all day for the green face of the hummingbird to touch me. What I mean is, could I forget myself even in those feathery fields?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker admires lilies’ simplicity, openness, and surrender to nature, yearning to lose self‑identity and be touched by fleeting beauty.
In simple terms: Desire to be simple and open like a lily, forgetting self in nature.
Key Takeaway
Embrace simplicity and openness to the present.
Themes
nature
self‑transcendence
beauty
humility
Mood
contemplative
peaceful
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- gardening
- meditation
- creative writing
- nature walks
- mindful observation
Key Concepts
transcendence
impermanence
mindfulness
Questions to Reflect On
- Can you find balance between openness and personal agency?
- How does surrendering to nature affect your sense of self?
A Different Perspective
Lily’s passive existence may ignore agency and responsibility.