Childhood Quote by Lewis Nordan
““She said, "Daddy thinks that all the world's magic is almost evolved out." I thought of Roebuck Lake, its swamps and sloughs and loblollies and breaks of cypress and cane, its sunken treetops and stobs and bream beds and sleepy gar rolling over and over and over, its baptizing pools and bridges and mussels and mosquitoes and turkey vultures and, now in the drought, the gray flaking mud-flats and logs crowded with turtles and sometimes a fat snake yawning its tame old cottony mouth like a well-fed dog in a pen. I said, "Is that what the freak show is?" She said, "Dirty miracles.””
About This Quote
A child’s awe of nature’s hidden wonders contrasts with adult cynicism that sees magic as obsolete, revealing a tension between wonder and disillusionment.
In simple terms: Nature’s mystery vs. adult skepticism
Key Takeaway
Wonder persists despite cynicism
Themes
wonder
nostalgia
nature
illusion
childhood
Mood
melancholic
reverent
curious
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reflecting on a childhood memory
- discussing loss of wonder
- exploring environmental change
- contemplating the uncanny
Key Concepts
magical realism
environmental imagery
generational perspective
Practical Applications
- creative writing inspiration
- environmental education
Questions to Reflect On
- How does adult skepticism affect our perception of nature?
- What role does memory play in preserving wonder?
