Nature Quote by Marilynne Robinson
““Need can blossom into all the compensations it requires. To crave and to have are as like as a thing and its shadow. For when does a berry break upon the tongue as sweetly as when one longs to taste it, and when is the taste refracted into so many hues and savors of ripeness and earth, and when do our senses know any thing so utterly as when we lack it?””
About This Quote
The passage reflects on desire, comparing craving for something to a shadow of a thing, suggesting that longing intensifies perception of the object.
In simple terms: Desire makes us see the object more vividly, like a shadow of a thing.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge how longing can both enrich and distort perception.
Themes
desire
perception
philosophy
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
Type
philosophical
poetic
When to use this quote
- poetry
- philosophical essays
- mindfulness practice
Key Concepts
artistic reflection
personal longing
sensory experience
Questions to Reflect On
- How does yearning change your view of an object?
- Can desire be a source of both joy and frustration?
A Different Perspective
Intense longing can lead to unrealistic expectations.
