As we passed by on the stony causeway, women looked up at…
““As we passed by on the stony causeway, women looked up at us from the fields, their faces furrowed with all known distresses. By their sides, lambs skipped in gaiety and innocence, and goats skipped in gaiety but without innocence, and at their feet the cyclamens shone mauve; the beasts and flowers seemed fortunate because they are not human, as those who have passed within the breath of a plague and have escaped it.””
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 contrasts human suffering with animal innocence, implying that non‑human beings seem fortunate to be untouched by plague and human distress.
In simple terms: Animals appear spared from human suffering.
Key Takeaway
Value innocence and simplicity.
Themes
suffering
innocence
humanity
Mood
somber
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- war zones
- pandemic response
- rural life
- philosophical reflection
Key Concepts
plague
contrast
empathy
Questions to Reflect On
- What does innocence teach us?
- How can we find hope in crisis?
A Different Perspective
Human resilience can also bring meaning despite suffering.