“I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself. A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough without ever having felt sorry for itself.”
Explore This Quote Further
Analysis of Quote
In this quote by D.H. Lawrence, the author reflects on the resilience of wild creatures in nature. The quote suggests that animals do not waste time feeling sorry for themselves when faced with adversity. Lawrence uses the example of a small bird dropping dead from a tree branch due to the cold, without ever experiencing self-pity. This quote highlights the instinctual survival mechanisms in the natural world and emphasizes the contrast between wild creatures and humans, who often dwell on their misfortunes. Lawrence's observation serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience of nature.
Embracing Resilience in the Face of Adversity
In this quote by D.H. Lawrence, the idea of resilience in the face of challenges is highlighted through the example of a small bird. Today, this message serves as a reminder for individuals to adapt and overcome difficulties without dwelling on self-pity. It emphasizes the importance of facing obstacles head-on and evolving to survive in a competitive and ever-changing world.
D.H. Lawrence on the Lack of Self-Pity in Nature
"I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself. A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough without ever having felt sorry for itself." - D.H. Lawrence
Reflection Questions:
When considering the quote by D.H. Lawrence about wild animals never feeling sorry for themselves, consider the following reflection questions:
- In what ways do wild animals demonstrate resilience and acceptance of their circumstances without feeling sorry for themselves?
- How can we apply this perspective to our own lives and challenges we may face?
- Do you think feeling sorry for oneself can hinder personal growth and resilience? Why or why not?
- How can we learn from nature and the behavior of wild animals in terms of acceptance and moving forward without self-pity?
Similar quotes
“I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself”
“When the emotional soul receives a wounding shock, the soul seems to recover as the body recovers. But this is only in appearance. Slowly, slowly the wound to the soul begins to make itself felt, like a bruise, which only slowly deepens its terrible ache, till it fills all the psyche. And when we think we have recovered and forgotten, it is then that the terrible after-effects have to be encountered at their worst.”
“And Clifford the same. All that talk! All that writing! All that wild struggling to push himself forwards! It was just insanity. And it was getting worse, really maniacal.Connie felt washed-out with fear. But at least, Clifford was shifting his grip from her on to Mrs Bolton. He did not know it. Like many insane people, his insanity might be measured by the things he was not aware of, the great desert tracts in his consciousness.”
“The young man, perched insecurely in the slender branches, rocked till he felt slightly drunk, reached down the boughs, where the scarlet beady cherries hung thick underneath, and tore off handful after handful of the sleek, cool-fleshed fruit. Cherries touched his ears and his neck as he stretched forward, their chill fingertips sending a flash down his blood. All shades of red, from a golden vermilion to a rich crimson, glowed and met his eyes under a darkness of leaves.”
“I want us to be together without bothering about ourselves- to be really together because we ARE together, as if it were a phenomenon, not a thing we have to maintain by our own effort.”
“Oh God, if the mechanism of the consciousness itself was going to go wrong, then what was one to do? Hang it all, one did one's bit! Was one to be let down absolutely?”