Thomas Hardy Quotes on Nature, born June 2, 1840, in Dorset, England, was a novelist and poet whose works, including Tess of the d’Urbervilles and Wessex Poems, are deeply rooted in the landscapes of his fictional Wessex. His reflections on nature capture its beauty, indifference, and profound influence on human life, often blending vivid imagery with philosophical insight. These 15 quotes—sourced from his novels, poems, and letters—reveal Hardy’s reverence for the natural world and its complex interplay with existence.
15 Thomas Hardy Quotes on Nature
- “The sky was clear—remarkably clear—and the twinkling of all the stars seemed to be but throbs of one body, timed by a common pulse.” (Novel, Far from the Madding Crowd, 1874)
- “The darkling thrush flung his soul upon the growing gloom.” (Poem, The Darkling Thrush, 1900)
- “Cruelty is the law pervading all nature and society; and we can’t get out of it if we would.” (Novel, Jude the Obscure, 1895)
- “The trees dripped and whispered with the rain, and stirred with the wind as though alive.” (Novel, The Woodlanders, 1887)
- “And the sea breathes brine from its strange straight bed.” (Poem, The Convergence of the Twain, 1912)
- “Nature does not often say ‘See!’ to her poor creatures at a time when seeing can lead to happiness.” (Novel, The Return of the Native, 1878)
- “The heath wore the appearance of an instalment of night which had taken up its place before its astronomical hour was come.” (Novel, The Return of the Native, 1878)
- “The poetry of motion is a phrase much in use, and to enjoy the epic form of that gratification it is necessary to stand on a hill.” (Novel, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, 1891)
- “The wind’s whisper through the trees seemed to speak of forgotten things.” (Novel, Under the Greenwood Tree, 1872)
- “In every blade of grass there is a mystery, and in every leaf a life.” (Letter, quoted in The Life of Thomas Hardy, 1928)
- “We stood by a pond that winter day, and the sun was white, as though chidden of God.” (Poem, Neutral Tones, 1867)
- “The seasons bring the flowers again, and bring the firstlings to the flock, but not the heart’s first love.” (Poem, During Wind and Rain, 1917)
- “The field was white with daisies, as if the stars had fallen and taken root.” (Novel, Tess of the d’Urbervilles, 1891)
- “Nature’s indifference to man’s fate is the one constant in a changing world.” (Novel, The Mayor of Casterbridge, 1886)
- “The boughs, with their wet leaves, seemed to sigh for the weight of time.” (Novel, The Woodlanders, 1887)
Thomas Hardy’s quotes on nature evoke its timeless beauty and unyielding presence, urging us to see its truths. Which one stirs your connection to the natural world? Drop it in the comments and let his words resonate.
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