Buried Quote by Charles Dickens
““curious kind of pleasure in lingering among these houses of the dead, and read the inscriptions on the tombs of the good people (a great number of good people were buried there), passing on from one to another with increasing interest. It was a very quiet place, as such a place should be, save for the cawing of the rooks who had built their nests among the branches of some tall old trees, and were calling to one another, high up in the air. First, one sleek bird, hovering near his ragged house as it swung and dangled in the wind, uttered his hoarse cry, quite by chance as it would seem, and in a sober tone as though he were but talking to himself. Another answered, and he called again, but louder than before; then another spoke and then another; and each time the first, aggravated by contradiction, insisted on his case more strongly. Other voices, silent till now, struck in from boughs lower down and higher up and midway, and to the right and left, and from the tree-tops; and others, arriving hastily from the grey church turrets and old belfry window, joined the clamour which rose and fell, and swelled and dropped again, and still went on; and all this noisy contention amidst a skimming to and fro, and lighting on fresh branches, and frequent change of place, which satirised the old restlessness of those who lay so still beneath the moss and turf below, and the strife in which they had worn away their lives. Frequently raising her eyes to the trees””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Charles Dickens, 1870
The narrator describes a fascination with exploring ancient burial sites, listening to the lively chatter of birds and the echo of history, juxtaposing the dead’s silence with nature’s restless activity.
In simple terms: Exploring old graves sparks curiosity, while birds’ chatter brings life to the quiet.
Observe history, let nature’s sounds deepen your reflection.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- visiting cemeteries
- birdwatching
- historical research
- meditative walks
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the presence of nature alter your perception of the past?
- What can the birds’ chatter teach us about memory?
May romantic focus on the dead distract from living experiences.