--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The forest has been growing for hundreds…" description: "\"“The forest has been growing for hundreds of years. Each time a child is born, a tree is planted. You could see from his tree how old a person was. The..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/henning-mankell-2068_children_the-forest-has-been-growing-for-hundreds_3161880.jpg" --- # The forest has been growing for hundreds of years. Each… ![“The forest has been growing for hundreds of years. Each time a child is born, a tree is planted. You could see from his tree how old a person was. The tall and thick tree trunks, which gave the most shade, belonged to people who had already returned to the spirit world. But the trees of the living…” quote by Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/henning-mankell-2068_children_the-forest-has-been-growing-for-hundreds_3161880.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/henning-mankell-2068_children_the-forest-has-been-growing-for-hundreds_3161880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a6/henning-mankell-2068_children_the-forest-has-been-growing-for-hundreds_3161880.jpg) > ““The forest has been growing for hundreds of years. Each time a child is born, a tree is planted. You could see from his tree how old a person was. The tall and thick tree trunks, which gave the most shade, belonged to people who had already returned to the spirit world. But the trees of the living and the dead stood in the same grove, sought their nourishment from the same soil and the same rain. They stood there waiting for the children that were not yet born, the trees that had not yet been planted. In that way the forest would grow, and the age of the village would be visible for all time. No one could tell from a tree whether someone was dead, only that he had been born.”” [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life and death are intertwined; each generation adds to a shared legacy, visible in the forest that nurtures both the living and the departed. **In simple terms:** People and generations are linked like trees in a forest. Key Takeaway Recognize your role in the ongoing community story. Themes legacy interconnectedness generations nature continuity Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - family gatherings - community planning - environmental education - memorial ceremonies Key Concepts symbolism cycle of life collective memory Questions to Reflect On - How does your personal legacy affect future generations? - What symbols in your life represent continuity? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex social dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Spirit world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit-world/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trees/) ## Related quotes > [“Over the ten years since she'd been born, the trees of Briary Swamp, West Virginia, had peered through May's window night after night. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/over-the-ten-years-since-she-d-been-born-the-trees-of-briary-swamp/) [Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/) > [As always, the ones who aren't saints make the most noise...a single tree falling makes a sound, but a whole forest growing doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/as-always-the-ones-who-aren-t-saints-make-the-most-noise-a-single/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Have you ever been in a large forest and seen a strange black tarn hidden deep among the leaves? 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Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [Many trees planted around a home reduce the need for air conditioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-pena/many-trees-planted-around-a-home-reduce-the-need-for-air-conditioning/) [Federico Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-pena/) > [“happiness would prevail where trees were planted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/happiness-would-prevail-where-trees-were-planted/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [I'd love to see a new form of social security ... everyone taught how to grow their own; fruit and nut trees planted along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-french/i-d-love-to-see-a-new-form-of-social-security-everyone-taught-how-to/) [Jackie French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-french/) > [I never before knew the full value of trees…What would I not give that the trees planted nearest round the house at Monticello were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/i-never-before-knew-the-full-value-of-trees-what-would-i-not-give/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [To be able to walk under the branches of a tree that you have planted is really to feel you have arrived with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirabel-osler/to-be-able-to-walk-under-the-branches-of-a-tree-that-you-have-planted/) [Mirabel Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirabel-osler/) > [I have been looking on, this evening, at a merry company of children assembled round that pretty German toy, a Christmas Tree. The tree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-been-looking-on-this-evening-at-a-merry-company-of-children/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Look upon yourself as a tree planted beside the water, which bears its fruit in due season; the more it is shaken by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mary-alacoque/look-upon-yourself-as-a-tree-planted-beside-the-water-which-bears-its/) [Margaret Mary Alacoque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mary-alacoque/) > [“Hermione looked far and far and George was a midge and a leaf was the size of a house and an acorn-cup would shelter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d/hermione-looked-far-and-far-and-george-was-a-midge-and-a-leaf-was-the/) H.D > [“A tree that is planted by the riverside blossoms all through because its environment has taking it beyond the realm of seasons.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikechukwu-izuakor/a-tree-that-is-planted-by-the-riverside-blossoms-all-through-because/) [Ikechukwu Izuakor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikechukwu-izuakor/) > [“The thorns which I have reap'd are of the tree I planted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron/the-thorns-which-i-have-reap-d-are-of-the-tree-i-planted/) Byron > [A pear-tree planted nigh: 'Twas charg'd with fruit that made a goodly show, And hung with dangling pears was every bough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/a-pear-tree-planted-nigh-twas-charg-d-with-fruit-that-made-a-goodly/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## More by Henning Mankell > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [“If a policeman is serious about his profession but says he has time, he lies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/if-a-policeman-is-serious-about-his-profession-but-says-he-has-time/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [“There is a silence in empty houses that is unique... People have left and taken all the noise with them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/there-is-a-silence-in-empty-houses-that-is-unique-people-have-left/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [My father thought, and now I think too, that the system of democracy is entirely based upon the system of justice. If we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/my-father-thought-and-now-i-think-too-that-the-system-of-democracy-is/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [I still have a photo on my wall of the greatest idol I will ever have in my life, and it's myself at eight.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/i-still-have-a-photo-on-my-wall-of-the-greatest-idol-i-will-ever-have/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [“The experience he'd gained during his years in the police force had given him this unambiguous answer: there are no murderers. Only ordinary people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/the-experience-he-d-gained-during-his-years-in-the-police-force-had/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [We used to send whole flocks of birds shooting out of our mouths and never managed to grab them by their wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/we-used-to-send-whole-flocks-of-birds-shooting-out-of-our-mouths-and/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [He was so excessively polite that Wallendar suspected he had endured many humiliations in his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/he-was-so-excessively-polite-that-wallendar-suspected-he-had-endured/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [“This is what Sweden is - quiet people leaning over the newspapers and coffee cups, each one with his own thoughts and destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/this-is-what-sweden-is-quiet-people-leaning-over-the-newspapers-and/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [“Working with keys is always meaningful. Locking and opening is, in a sense, man's very purpose on this earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/working-with-keys-is-always-meaningful-locking-and-opening-is-in-a/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [“La plupart des voyages dont on rêve n'ont jamais lieu. Ou alors on les accomplit intérieurement. L'avantage, quand on emprunte ces vols intérieurs, c'est…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/la-plupart-des-voyages-dont-on-r-ve-n-ont-jamais-lieu-ou-alors-on-les/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [Our exile organizations have been our way of replacing the cities and villages we have lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/our-exile-organizations-have-been-our-way-of-replacing-the-cities-and/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [What annoys a person who suicides? The life itself. Boredom. Tiredness that descends on every morning when you look at yourself at the mirror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/what-annoys-a-person-who-suicides-the-life-itself-boredom-tiredness/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [“Your memories will be a flock of birds, silently flying in the sky. You will see them flying in and see them flying away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/your-memories-will-be-a-flock-of-birds-silently-flying-in-the-sky-you/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [“In the biological world children are the sole purpose. Nothing else matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/in-the-biological-world-children-are-the-sole-purpose-nothing-else/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Explore all 175 Henning Mankell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. 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I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? 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