Buried Quote by William Maxwell
““There is nothing so difficult to arrive at as the nature and personality of one's parents. Death, about which so much mystery is made,is perhaps no mystery at all. But the history of one's parents has to be pieced together from fragments, their motives and characters guessed at, and the truth about them remains deeply buried, like a boulder that projects one small surface above the level of smooth lawn, and when you come to dig around it, it proves to be too large ever to move, though each year's frost forces it up a little higher.””
About This Quote
Understanding our parents is inherently elusive; we only see fragments and must infer motives, leaving a massive, hidden truth that resists full comprehension.
In simple terms: Parents' true nature is largely unknowable.
Key Takeaway
We can never fully grasp our parents' inner lives.
Themes
identity
family
mystery
memory
inheritance
Mood
nostalgic
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- reflecting on family history
- writing a memoir
- therapy sessions
- genealogical research
Key Concepts
psychology
generational legacy
Practical Applications
- psychological counseling
- creative writing
Questions to Reflect On
- What aspects of a parent's life are most likely to remain hidden?
- How does the unknown shape our own identity?
![“Perhaps [the critics are right and] the drama is played out now and Jesus is safely dead and buried. Perhaps. It is ironical and entertaining to consider that at least once in the world's history those words might have been said with complete conviction, and that was on the eve of the Resurrection.” quote by Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/467/dorothy-l-sayers-738_buried_perhaps-the-critics-are-right-and-the-dr_43252.jpg)