Thirty years Quote by Thomas Hardy
““I am sorry to shock you," she said. "But the moth eats the garment somewhat in five-and thirty years.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Tess of the d’Urbervilles, 1891
A character apologizes for shocking, noting that time erodes clothing like a moth.
In simple terms: Time slowly destroys things, even clothing.
Key Takeaway
Accept that change and decay are inevitable.
Themes
time
decay
apology
inevitability
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- aging process
- fashion cycles
- historical preservation
- personal loss
Key Concepts
impermanence
mortality
Questions to Reflect On
- What things in your life are slowly changing?
- How do you respond to inevitable loss?
A Different Perspective
Some changes can be mitigated with care.
![“[When her daughter suggested the President refer in his conversation with foreign dignitaries about lawn care to 'fertilizer' instead of to 'manure':] But remember, it took me almost thirty years to get him to call it manure.” quote by Bess Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4fe/bess-truman-27530_care_when-her-daughter-suggested-the-presiden_25215.jpg)
