Skip to content

Books Quote by Virginia Woolf

“Consider how common illness is, how tremendous the spiritual change that it brings, how astonishing, when the lights of health go down, the undiscovered countries that are then disclosed, what wastes and deserts of the soul a slight attack of influenza brings to view, what precipices and lawns…” quote by Virginia Woolf
Download Open image
““Consider how common illness is, how tremendous the spiritual change that it brings, how astonishing, when the lights of health go down, the undiscovered countries that are then disclosed, what wastes and deserts of the soul a slight attack of influenza brings to view, what precipices and lawns sprinkled with bright flowers a little rise of temperature reveals, what ancient and obdurate oaks are uprooted in us by the act of sickness, how we go down in the pit of death and feel the waters of annihilation close above our heads and wake thinking to find ourselves in the presence of the angels and the harpers when we have a tooth out and come to the surface in the dentist's arm-chair and confuse his "Rinse the mouth-rinse the mouth" with the greeting of the Deity stooping from the floor of Heaven to welcome us - when we think of this, as we are so frequently forced to think of it, it becomes strange indeed that illness has not taken its place with love and battle and jealousy among the prime themes of literature””

Virginia Woolf

About This Quote

Source Novel: Mrs Dalloway, 1925

Illness reveals hidden depths of the soul, exposing both desolation and unexpected beauty in our inner landscape.

In simple terms: Sickness uncovers inner truths and hidden beauty.

Key Takeaway

Embrace vulnerability as a path to self‑discovery.

Themes

illness spirituality inner truth beauty vulnerability

Mood

contemplative melancholic introspective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • hospital stay
  • personal crisis
  • creative writing
  • therapy
  • spiritual practice

Key Concepts

Existential reflection psychological insight metaphor

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does personal suffering reshape your worldview?
  • What hidden aspects of yourself emerge during illness?
A Different Perspective

Illness can also numb perception, limiting insight for some.

4.5 out of 5 (3 ratings)

More by Virginia Woolf

Explore all 1,872 Virginia Woolf quotes

More Books quotes

Browse all 59,505 Books quotes