Smell Quote by Rebecca Wells
““Once the scent caught me on the street in Greenwich Village. I stopped in my tracks and looked around. Where was it coming from? A shop? The trees? A passerby? I could not tell. I only knew the smell made me cry. I stood on the sidewalk in Greenwich Village as people brushed by, and felt suddenly young and terribly open, as if I were waiting for something. I live in an ocean of smell, and the ocean is my mother.””
About This Quote
Source Book: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, 1943
The narrator describes an overwhelming, nostalgic scent that triggers deep emotion, symbolizing a yearning for connection and identity.
In simple terms: A powerful smell evokes strong feelings and memories.
Key Takeaway
Pay attention to sensory cues that reveal inner desires.
Themes
memory
nostalgia
identity
yearning
Mood
reflective
poetic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- urban walking
- artistic inspiration
- personal introspection
Key Concepts
sensory perception
emotional resonance
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this scent represent for you?
- How do sensory experiences shape self‑understanding?
A Different Perspective
Interpretations may vary; scent is subjective.
