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D. H. Lawrence Quotes

Powerful D. H. Lawrence for Daily Growth

About D. H. Lawrence

Daniel Hall Lawrence, commonly known as D.H. Lawrence, was born on September 11, 1885, in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, England. Raised in a coal-mining community, his upbringing significantly influenced his work, particularly his exploration of class and sexuality. After leaving school at the age of 14, Lawrence worked in various jobs before publishing his first book, 'The White Peacock,' in 1911. Lawrence's writing career was marked by controversy due to his raw and unapologetic portrayal of sexuality. His most famous works, such as 'Sons and Lovers' (1913) and 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' (1928), were both banned in Britain for obscenity upon initial publication. His travels around the world - including Austria, Italy, Mexico, and Australia - provided rich material for his works. These journeys inspired masterpieces like 'The Rainbow' (1915) and 'Women in Love' (1920), both of which challenged traditional narrative structures and explored themes of modernity, sexuality, and the human connection with nature. Despite facing numerous bans and censorship, Lawrence continued to write profoundly, delving into psychological depths and exploring the complexities of human relationships. He died on March 2, 1930, in Vence, France, having left an indelible mark on modern literature with his raw honesty, poetic prose, and unflinching exploration of taboo subjects. Today, D.H. Lawrence is celebrated as one of the most important authors of the 20th century.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Not I, not any child may choose their parents. We know we grow among the places our legs have been."

This quote by D. H. Lawrence emphasizes that one does not have a choice in choosing their parents or family. The upbringing, environment, and experiences, symbolized by "the places [one's] legs have been," significantly shape an individual and influence their personal growth and development. It underscores the idea that our identities are deeply rooted in our familial and environmental context, which cannot be chosen but must be embraced and navigated as we journey through life.

"I'd rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet."

This quote by D. H. Lawrence suggests a preference for living boldly and passionately, like a bright, fleeting meteor, over a predictable, steady existence. The "superb meteor" symbolizes intense, radiant living, while the "sleepy and permanent planet" represents a monotonous, unchanging life. The quote implies that it is better to live fully and fiercely, even if it's brief, than to exist in a dull, long-lasting manner.

"You can't go back to your youth, but you can bring your youth with you, wherever you go."

This quote by D. H. Lawrence suggests that one should not attempt to literally return to their past, as that is impossible. However, the essence of one's youth - the experiences, values, passions, and perspectives - can be carried forward into all aspects of life, thereby infusing the present and future with the vibrancy and spirit of youthfulness. In other words, the wisdom and energy from our younger years can continue to influence us, shaping who we are as we grow and evolve.

"The secret of finding the way through life is to surrender yourself utterly to the moment - to be strong, gently in things, and bend before the reeds."

This quote emphasizes living mindfully and being present in each moment, rather than being overly controlling or resistant to life's flow. The phrase "surrender yourself utterly" suggests embracing every experience with an open heart, while retaining strength and flexibility like a reed that bends but does not break. This approach allows us to navigate life gracefully, finding our way without clinging too tightly to preconceived notions or expectations.

"We are all guilty, whatever we do and think, under the nature that causes us to do and think as we cannot help but do or think."

This quote suggests that humans are inherently flawed due to our shared biological and psychological nature. It implies that human actions and thoughts are predetermined by our intrinsic qualities, which may lead us to make mistakes or engage in behavior that is considered wrong. In essence, it posits that moral responsibility lies not just with individual choices but also with the universal human condition.

I can't bear art that you can walk round and admire. A book should be either a bandit or a rebel or a man in the crowd.

- D. H. Lawrence

Art, Crowd, Bandit, Rebel

The world of men is dreaming, it has gone mad in its sleep, and a snake is strangling it, but it can't wake up.

- D. H. Lawrence

Dreams, Sleep, Dreaming, Snake

The more I see of democracy the more I dislike it. It just brings everything down to the mere vulgar level of wages and prices, electric light and water closets, and nothing else.

- D. H. Lawrence

More, Dislike, Level, Wages

If a woman hasn't got a tiny streak of harlot in her, she's a dry stick as a rule.

- D. H. Lawrence

Woman, She, Her, Streak

It is so much more difficult to live with one's body than with one's soul. One's body is so much more exacting: what it won't have it won't have, and nothing can make bitter into sweet.

- D. H. Lawrence

Soul, Nothing, More, Exacting

Men always do leave off really thinking, when the last bit of wild animal dies in them.

- D. H. Lawrence

Always, Last, Them, Wild Animal

The cruelest thing a man can do to a woman is to portray her as perfection.

- D. H. Lawrence

Woman, Her, Cruelest, Portray

Life is a travelling to the edge of knowledge, then a leap taken.

- D. H. Lawrence

Wisdom, Edge, Travelling, Leap

Do not allow to slip away from you freedoms the people who came before you won with such hard knocks.

- D. H. Lawrence

Freedom, Away, Allow, Slip

I can't do with mountains at close quarters - they are always in the way, and they are so stupid, never moving and never doing anything but obtrude themselves.

- D. H. Lawrence

Mountains, Stupid, Always, Quarters

Creation destroys as it goes, throws down one tree for the rise of another. But ideal mankind would abolish death, multiply itself million upon million, rear up city upon city, save every parasite alive, until the accumulation of mere existence is swollen to a horror.

- D. H. Lawrence

Death, City, Alive, Parasite

For man, as for flower and beast and bird, the supreme triumph is to be most vividly, most perfectly alive.

- D. H. Lawrence

Triumph, Most, Perfectly, Flower

Love is the flower of life, and blossoms unexpectedly and without law, and must be plucked where it is found, and enjoyed for the brief hour of its duration.

- D. H. Lawrence

Love, Gardening, Brief, Blossoms

The fairest thing in nature, a flower, still has its roots in earth and manure.

- D. H. Lawrence

Nature, Still, Manure, Flower

The Christian fear of the pagan outlook has damaged the whole consciousness of man.

- D. H. Lawrence

Consciousness, Pagan, Outlook

There is only one thing that a man really wants to do, all his life; and that is, to find his way to his God, his Morning Star, salute his fellow man, and enjoy the woman who has come the long way with him.

- D. H. Lawrence

Romantic, Woman, Fellow Man, Salute

Psychoanalysis is out, under a therapeutic disguise, to do away entirely with the moral faculty in man.

- D. H. Lawrence

Man, Away, Therapeutic, Psychoanalysis

The war is dreadful. It is the business of the artist to follow it home to the heart of the individual fighters - not to talk in armies and nations and numbers - but to track it home.

- D. H. Lawrence

Business, Individual, Armies, Fighters

The true artist doesn't substitute immorality for morality. On the contrary, he always substitutes a finer morality for a grosser one.

- D. H. Lawrence

Artist, Always, Substitute, Substitutes

I like to write when I feel spiteful. It is like having a good sneeze.

- D. H. Lawrence

Feel, Like, Having, Spiteful

I am in love - and, my God, it is the greatest thing that can happen to a man. I tell you, find a woman you can fall in love with. Do it. Let yourself fall in love. If you have not done so already, you are wasting your life.

- D. H. Lawrence

Love, Woman, Wasting, Greatest Thing

The novel is the highest form of human expression so far attained. Why? Because it is so incapable of the absolute.

- D. H. Lawrence

Why, Expression, Form, Incapable

I hate the actor and audience business. An author should be in among the crowd, kicking their shins or cheering them on to some mischief or merriment.

- D. H. Lawrence

Audience, Some, Mischief, Merriment

There's always the hyena of morality at the garden gate, and the real wolf at the end of the street.

- D. H. Lawrence

Wolf, Always, Hyena, Garden

Europe's the mayonnaise, but America supplies the good old lobster.

- D. H. Lawrence

Old, Supplies, Mayonnaise, Lobster

One could laugh at the world better if it didn't mix tender kindliness with its brutality.

- D. H. Lawrence

World, Better, Tender, Mix

Men are freest when they are most unconscious of freedom. The shout is a rattling of chains, always was.

- D. H. Lawrence

Men, Always, Most, Rattling

The American grips himself, at the very sources of his consciousness, in a grip of care: and then, to so much of the rest of life, is indifferent. Whereas, the European hasn't got so much care in him, so he cares much more for life and living.

- D. H. Lawrence

Rest, Very, Grips, Whereas

The only history is a mere question of one's struggle inside oneself. But that is the joy of it. One need neither discover Americas nor conquer nations, and yet one has as great a work as Columbus or Alexander, to do.

- D. H. Lawrence

Question, Discover, Need, Struggle

A man has no religion who has not slowly and painfully gathered one together, adding to it, shaping it; and one's religion is never complete and final, it seems, but must always be undergoing modification.

- D. H. Lawrence

Always, Undergoing, Gathered, Shaping

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