---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think New Mexico was the greatest…"
description: "\"“I think New Mexico was the greatest experience from the outside world that I have ever had. It certainly changed me for ever. Curious as it may sound,..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1c/d-h-lawrence-2-1397_buddhism_i-think-new-mexico-was-the-greatest-expe_1575755.jpg"
---

#  I think New Mexico was the greatest experience from the…

![“I think New Mexico was the greatest experience from the outside world that I have ever had. It certainly changed me for ever. Curious as it may sound, it was New Mexico that liberated me from the present era of civilization, the great era of material and mechanical development. Months spent in…” quote by D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1c/d-h-lawrence-2-1397_buddhism_i-think-new-mexico-was-the-greatest-expe_1575755.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1c/d-h-lawrence-2-1397_buddhism_i-think-new-mexico-was-the-greatest-expe_1575755.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1c/d-h-lawrence-2-1397_buddhism_i-think-new-mexico-was-the-greatest-expe_1575755.jpg)

> ““I think New Mexico was the greatest experience from the outside world that I have ever had. It certainly changed me for ever. Curious as it may sound, it was New Mexico that liberated me from the present era of civilization, the great era of material and mechanical development. Months spent in holy Kandy, in Ceylon, the holy of holies of southern Buddhism, had not touched the great psyche of materialism and idealism which dominated me. And years, even in the exquisite beauty of Sicily, right among the old Greek paganism that still lives there, had not shattered the essential Christianity on which my character was established. Australia was a sort of dream or trance, like being under a spell, the self remaining unchanged, so long as the trance did not last too long. Tahiti, in a mere glimpse, repelled me: and so did California, after a stay of a few weeks. There seemed a strange brutality in the spirit of the western coast, and I felt: O, let me get away! But the moment I saw the brilliant, proud morning shine up over the deserts of Santa Fe, something stood still in my soul, and I started to attend. There was a certain magnificence in the high-up day, a certain eagle-like royalty, so different from the equally pure, equally pristine and lovely morning of Australia, which is so soft, so utterly pure in its softness, and betrayed by green parrot flying. But in the lovely morning of Australia one went into a dream. In the magnificent fierce morning of New Mexico one sprang awake, a new part of the soul woke up suddenly, and the old world gave way to a new.””

[D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/)

## About This Quote

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

The author describes New Mexico’s stark, bright mornings as a catalyst that shattered his previous materialistic worldview, awakening a deeper, more authentic part of his soul.

**In simple terms:** New Mexico’s sunrise awakened a new, authentic self.

Key Takeaway

Embrace environments that challenge your assumptions.

Themes

self‑discovery place awakening materialism spirituality

Mood

reflective inspired introspective

Type

personal essay travel narrative spiritual reflection

When to use this quote

- travel
- personal transformation
- spiritual crisis
- cultural immersion

Key Concepts

existential awakening contrast of cultures nature as catalyst

Questions to Reflect On

- What places have reshaped your identity?
- How can you sustain the insight gained from such moments?

A Different Perspective

The impact may be temporary; lasting change requires ongoing reflection.

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[Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Lovely Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lovely-morning/) [Old greek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-greek/) [Old world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-world/) [Outside world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outside-world/) [Santa fe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/santa-fe/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/)

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