--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The little unknown thing was growing…" description: "\"“The little unknown thing was growing within her as suddenly and softly as the first touch of spring on the maples. It was putting out its hidden, wate..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/caroline-miller-81895_cypresses_the-little-unknown-thing-was-growing-wit_2490903.jpg" --- # The little unknown thing was growing within her as… ![“The little unknown thing was growing within her as suddenly and softly as the first touch of spring on the maples. It was putting out its hidden, watery roots as simply and surely as little cypresses take root in a stretch of swamp water away off yonder. It was coming upon her as quietly as the…” quote by Caroline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/caroline-miller-81895_cypresses_the-little-unknown-thing-was-growing-wit_2490903.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/caroline-miller-81895_cypresses_the-little-unknown-thing-was-growing-wit_2490903.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/caroline-miller-81895_cypresses_the-little-unknown-thing-was-growing-wit_2490903.jpg) > ““The little unknown thing was growing within her as suddenly and softly as the first touch of spring on the maples. It was putting out its hidden, watery roots as simply and surely as little cypresses take root in a stretch of swamp water away off yonder. It was coming upon her as quietly as the dark came up from the woods at night and hushed in the little clearing, closing every chink of every shutter tight with nothing. Impulses swelled within her, swelled her body fit to burst; yet they did not come out in words, nor song, nor in any sign.”” [Caroline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-miller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A subtle, internal awakening grows quietly, like spring’s first touch, building hidden strength that cannot be expressed verbally. **In simple terms:** A quiet inner change builds strength. Key Takeaway Notice and nurture unseen growth. Themes growth awakening inner strength silence Mood reflective introspective Type literary poetic When to use this quote - personal development - creative inspiration - emotional awareness - self‑discovery Key Concepts psychology metaphor nature imagery Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize silent inner changes? - What supports hidden growth? A Different Perspective Words may not capture deep impulses. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cypresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cypresses/) [Cypresses Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cypresses-root-963380/) [Hushed Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hushed-little-963381/) [Little Cypresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-cypresses-963379/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Motherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motherhood/) [Pregnancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pregnancy/) [Quietly Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quietly-dark-963382/) ## Related quotes > [Much can they praise the trees so straight and high, The sailing pine,the cedar proud and tall, The vine-prop elm, the poplar never dry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/much-can-they-praise-the-trees-so-straight-and-high-the-sailing-pine/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [I am a forest, and a night of dark trees: but he who is not afraid of my darkness, will find banks full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-am-a-forest-and-a-night-of-dark-trees-but-he-who-is-not-afraid-of/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [When I was 15, my parents left town for a month. 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Other places the skeletons of the cypress-trees that went down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/reelfoot-is-and-has-always-been-a-lake-of-mystery-in-places-it-is/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [And in the afternoon they entered a land - but such a land! A land hung in mourning, darkened by gigantic cypresses, submerged; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington-cable/and-in-the-afternoon-they-entered-a-land-but-such-a-land-a-land-hung/) [George Washington Cable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington-cable/) > [Only after Winter comes do we know that the pine and the cypress are the last to fade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/only-after-winter-comes-do-we-know-that-the-pine-and-the-cypress-are/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Give your heart,but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.And stand together,yet not too near together:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-your-heart-but-not-into-each-other-s-keeping-for-only-the-hand/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They chatter together like birds on Cypress Hill, but all they say is 'Live, live, live, live, live!' It's all they've learned, it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/they-chatter-together-like-birds-on-cypress-hill-but-all-they-say-is/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [You will find a spring by the dwelling of the dead, to the left. Next to it stands a white cypress. Do not approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustaw-herling-grudzinski/you-will-find-a-spring-by-the-dwelling-of-the-dead-to-the-left-next/) [Gustaw Herling-Grudzinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustaw-herling-grudzinski/) > [Within its gates I heard the sound Of winds in cypress caverns caught Of huddling tress that moaned, and sought To whisper what their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sterling/within-its-gates-i-heard-the-sound-of-winds-in-cypress-caverns-caught/) [George Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sterling/) ## More by Caroline Miller > [“God's forgot that ever I lived... He's forgot...and He never cared, nohow…" He smoothed her brown, rough-palmed hand; he held her hands to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-miller/god-s-forgot-that-ever-i-lived-he-s-forgot-and-he-never-cared-nohow/) [Caroline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-miller/) > [“She was glad that she had not let on to Lonzo how she felt; a woman has business to be as strong as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-miller/she-was-glad-that-she-had-not-let-on-to-lonzo-how-she-felt-a-woman/) [Caroline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-miller/) [Explore all 3 Caroline Miller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-miller/) ## More Cypresses quotes > [Much can they praise the trees so straight and high, The sailing pine,the cedar proud and tall, The vine-prop elm, the poplar never dry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/much-can-they-praise-the-trees-so-straight-and-high-the-sailing-pine/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [You will find a spring by the dwelling of the dead, to the left. 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For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.And stand together,yet not too near together:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-your-heart-but-not-into-each-other-s-keeping-for-only-the-hand/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Only after Winter comes do we know that the pine and the cypress are the last to fade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/only-after-winter-comes-do-we-know-that-the-pine-and-the-cypress-are/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [And in the afternoon they entered a land - but such a land! A land hung in mourning, darkened by gigantic cypresses, submerged; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington-cable/and-in-the-afternoon-they-entered-a-land-but-such-a-land-a-land-hung/) [George Washington Cable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington-cable/) > [Reelfoot is, and has always been, a lake of mystery.In places it is bottomless. Other places the skeletons of the cypress-trees that went down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/reelfoot-is-and-has-always-been-a-lake-of-mystery-in-places-it-is/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [The groves and thickets of smaller trees are full of blooming evergreen vines. These vines are not arranged in separate groups, or in delicate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/the-groves-and-thickets-of-smaller-trees-are-full-of-blooming/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Every moment a taste of that beauty in our mouths, another stashed in a pocket. Impossible to say what: no cypress so handsome, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/every-moment-a-taste-of-that-beauty-in-our-mouths-another-stashed-in/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > ["I'm not going anywhere," she told me that night. But until we are old ladies-a cypress age, a Sawtooth age-I will continue to link…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-russell/i-m-not-going-anywhere-she-told-me-that-night-but-until-we-are-old/) [Karen Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-russell/) > [Cypress Point is such a beautiful place, but it's also very exclusive. They had a very successful membership drive last month. They drove out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/cypress-point-is-such-a-beautiful-place-but-it-s-also-very-exclusive/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [When I am dead, my dearest, Sing no sad songs for me; Plant thou no roses at my head, Nor shady cypress tree: Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-rossetti/when-i-am-dead-my-dearest-sing-no-sad-songs-for-me-plant-thou-no/) [Christina Rossetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-rossetti/) > [When I was 15, my parents left town for a month. They hid the keys to the car, but I found them. That month,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-masterson/when-i-was-15-my-parents-left-town-for-a-month-they-hid-the-keys-to/) [Danny Masterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-masterson/) > [I am a forest, and a night of dark trees: but he who is not afraid of my darkness, will find banks full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-am-a-forest-and-a-night-of-dark-trees-but-he-who-is-not-afraid-of/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Within its gates I heard the sound Of winds in cypress caverns caught Of huddling tress that moaned, and sought To whisper what their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sterling/within-its-gates-i-heard-the-sound-of-winds-in-cypress-caverns-caught/) [George Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sterling/) [Browse all 46 Cypresses quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cypresses/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The little unknown thing was growing within her as suddenly and softly as the first touch of spring on the maples. 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