Skip to content

The young gentlemen who came calling seemed especially…

“The young gentlemen who came calling seemed especially puzzling. They sat in their velvet shirts and their leather boots, nibbling burnt cakes and praising Diamond's mind, and all the while their eyes said other things. Now, their eyes said. Now. Then: Patience, patience. 'You are flowers,' their…” quote by Patricia A. McKillip
Download Open image
““The young gentlemen who came calling seemed especially puzzling. They sat in their velvet shirts and their leather boots, nibbling burnt cakes and praising Diamond's mind, and all the while their eyes said other things. Now, their eyes said. Now. Then: Patience, patience. 'You are flowers,' their mouths said, 'You are jewels, you are golden dreams.' Their eyes said: I eat flowers, I burn with dreams, I have a tower without a door in my heart, and I will keep you there... ””

Patricia A. McKillip

About This Quote

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

A surreal scene where polite strangers mask hidden desires and inner turmoil, revealing the clash between outward politeness and inner chaos.

In simple terms: People hide true feelings behind polite words.

Key Takeaway

Look beyond appearances to understand deeper motives.

Themes

appearance deception inner conflict desire dreams

Mood

mysterious poetic reflective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • social gatherings
  • first impressions
  • personal introspection
  • creative writing
  • interpretive analysis

Key Concepts

surrealism psychology symbolism

Questions to Reflect On

  • What hidden emotions do you notice in polite conversations?
  • How do symbols reveal inner truths?
A Different Perspective

The metaphorical language may obscure literal meaning for some readers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Patricia A. McKillip

Explore all 102 Patricia A. McKillip quotes

More Flower quotes

Browse all 12,347 Flower quotes