Mother Quote by Virginia Woolf
““She had some hidden reason of her own for attaching great importance to this choosing what her mother was to wear. What was the reason, Mrs. Ramsay wondered, standing still to let her clasp the necklace she had chosen, divining, through her own past, some deep, some buried, some quite speechless feeling that one had for one's mother at Rose's age. Like all feelings felt for oneself, Mrs. Ramsay thought, it made one sad. It was so inadequate, what one could give in return; and what Rose felt was quite out of proportion to anything she actually was. And Rose would grow up; and Rose would suffer, she supposed, with these deep feelings, and she said she was ready now...””
About This Quote
Source Book: To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf, 1927
Mrs. Ramsay reflects on the deep, unspoken love for her mother, feeling both sadness and inadequacy in her ability to reciprocate.
In simple terms: She feels profound, unexpressed love and sadness.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge and express deep familial emotions.
Themes
family
love
memory
sadness
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- family gatherings
- generational reflection
- grief processing
- personal growth
Key Concepts
psychology
literary analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- What unspoken feelings do you hold for family?
- How can you express gratitude more fully?
A Different Perspective
The passage may idealize emotions, not accounting for complex realities.
