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On older trees still than these huge lobes of fungi grew…

“On older trees still than these huge lobes of fungi grew like lungs. Here, as everywhere, the Unfulfilled Intention, which makes life what it is, was as obvious as it could be among the depraved crowds of a city slum. The leaf was deformed…the taper was interrupted..and the ivy slowly strangled to…” quote by Thomas Hardy
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““On older trees still than these huge lobes of fungi grew like lungs. Here, as everywhere, the Unfulfilled Intention, which makes life what it is, was as obvious as it could be among the depraved crowds of a city slum. The leaf was deformed…the taper was interrupted..and the ivy slowly strangled to death the promising sapling.””

Thomas Hardy

About This Quote

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

Decay and neglect in a slum mirror the erosion of hope and intention, with nature itself suffocating under human misery.

In simple terms: Urban decay reflects lost purpose and dying life.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and address systemic neglect.

Themes

urban decay neglect human suffering nature hope

Mood

somber critical

Type

literary social

When to use this quote

  • city slum
  • environmental degradation
  • public health
  • urban planning

Key Concepts

existentialism social critique

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can communities revive neglected spaces?
  • What role does nature play in human despair?
A Different Perspective

Hope can persist despite overwhelming decay.

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