Time Quote by D.H. Lawrence
““She came upon a bankside of lavender crocuses. The sun was on them for the moment, and they were opened flat, great five-pointed, seven-pointed lilac stars, with burning centres, burning with a strange lavender flame, as she had seen some metal burn lilac-flamed in the laboratory of the hospital at Islington. All down and oak-dry bankside they burned their great exposed stars. And she felt like going down on her knees and bending her forehead to the earth in an oriental submission, they were so royal, so lovely, so supreme. She came again to them in the morning, when the sky was grey, and they were closed, sharp clubs, wonderfully fragile on their stems of sap, among leaves and old grass and wild periwinkle. They had wonderful dark stripes running up their cheeks, the crocuses, like the clear proud stripes on a badger’s face, or on some proud cat. She took a handful of the sappy, shut, striped flames. In her room they opened into a grand bowl of lilac fire.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Fox” by D.H. Lawrence, 1922
A vivid description of lavender crocuses evokes awe, reverence, and a sense of surrender to natural beauty.
In simple terms: Nature’s beauty can inspire deep humility and wonder.
Pause to notice and honor moments of natural splendor.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- garden walks
- artistic inspiration
- meditative practice
- creative writing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this scene reveal about the narrator’s inner state?
- How can you cultivate similar reverence in daily life?
The intense focus may romanticize nature, ignoring its harsher aspects.