--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Each new year is a surprise to us. We…" description: "\"Each new year is a surprise to us. We find that we had virtually forgotten the note of each bird, and when we hear it again, it is remembered like a dr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/henry-david-thoreau-20_association_each-new-year-is-a-surprise-to-us-we-fin_2350201.jpg" --- # Each new year is a surprise to us. We find that we had… ![“Each new year is a surprise to us. We find that we had virtually forgotten the note of each bird, and when we hear it again, it is remembered like a dream, reminding us of a previous state of existence. How happens it that the associations it awakens are always pleasing, never saddening…” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/henry-david-thoreau-20_association_each-new-year-is-a-surprise-to-us-we-fin_2350201.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/henry-david-thoreau-20_association_each-new-year-is-a-surprise-to-us-we-fin_2350201.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/henry-david-thoreau-20_association_each-new-year-is-a-surprise-to-us-we-fin_2350201.jpg) > “Each new year is a surprise to us. We find that we had virtually forgotten the note of each bird, and when we hear it again, it is remembered like a dream, reminding us of a previous state of existence. How happens it that the associations it awakens are always pleasing, never saddening, reminiscences of our sanest hours. The voice of nature is always encouraging.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nature’s recurring sounds revive forgotten memories, offering comforting nostalgia and encouragement. **In simple terms:** Birdsong reminds us of past joys, not sorrows. Key Takeaway Cherish and listen to nature’s cues. Themes nature memory comfort nostalgia Mood calm reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - walking in woods - birdwatching - meditation - journaling Key Concepts sensory recall psychology of nostalgia Questions to Reflect On - How does nature influence your emotional state? - What memories does a specific sound trigger? A Different Perspective May overlook present challenges while idealizing past. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [New year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-year/) [Nostalgia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nostalgia/) [Saddening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saddening/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [The voice of nature is always encouraging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-voice-of-nature-is-always-encouraging/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [No bird has ever uttered note That was not in some first bird's throat; Since Eden's freshness and man's fall No rose has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bailey-aldrich/no-bird-has-ever-uttered-note-that-was-not-in-some-first-bird-s/) [Thomas Bailey Aldrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bailey-aldrich/) > [There was something refreshingly and wildly musical to my ears in the very name of the white man's canoe, reminding me of Charlevoix and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/there-was-something-refreshingly-and-wildly-musical-to-my-ears-in-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“It is astounding to find that the belly of every black and evil thing is white as snow. And it is saddening to discover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/it-is-astounding-to-find-that-the-belly-of-every-black-and-evil-thing/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [It is one of the most saddening things in life that, try as we may, we can never be certain of making people happy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/it-is-one-of-the-most-saddening-things-in-life-that-try-as-we-may-we/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Paint here no draped despairs, no saddening clouds, Where the soul rests, proclaims eternity. But let the wrong cry out as raw as wounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-spender/paint-here-no-draped-despairs-no-saddening-clouds-where-the-soul/) [Stephen Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-spender/) > [It's not exactly annoying but definitely saddening to see people getting into blogging for completely the wrong reasons. 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The autumn wood robed in its scarlet clothes, The matchless tinting on the royal rose Whose velvet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/all-perfect-things-are-saddening-in-effect-the-autumn-wood-robed-in/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [The tears stream down my cheeks from my unblinking eyes. What makes me weep so? There is nothing saddening here. Perhaps it is liquefied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/the-tears-stream-down-my-cheeks-from-my-unblinking-eyes-what-makes-me/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [It is saddening to see parents busy making money and their children losing out on a good life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-kishan/it-is-saddening-to-see-parents-busy-making-money-and-their-children/) [Ravi Kishan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-kishan/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. 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