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Richard Jefferies Quotes

Powerful Richard Jefferies for Daily Growth

About Richard Jefferies

Richard Jefferies (1848-1887), a British naturalist and writer, was born on February 7, 1848, in Coate, Wiltshire, England. His love for the natural world, particularly the countryside, would become the central theme of his works. Jefferies's upbringing was marked by financial hardship and frequent moves due to his family's occupation as itinerant schoolmasters. This transient lifestyle instilled in him a deep appreciation for the landscapes he encountered, which later manifested in his vivid descriptions and profound connection with nature. At the age of 15, Jefferies was apprenticed to an engraver in London, but soon found solace and inspiration in the city's libraries rather than the printing press. He began writing at this time, contributing articles to periodicals on natural history and folklore. In 1870, he published his first major work, "The Amateur Poacher," which garnered critical acclaim. Jefferies's most famous novel, "Bevis Midhael" (1889), was published posthumously. The story of a young boy growing up in the English countryside, it embodies Jefferies's philosophical view of nature and mankind's place within it. Other significant works include "Can a Man be Too Clever?" (1879), "The Story of My Heart" (1883), and "After London: or Wild England" (1885). Jefferies's influence can be seen in the works of modern nature writers such as Robert Macfarlane, John Lewis-Stempel, and Patrick Barkham. His unique blend of romanticism, natural history, and social commentary continues to resonate with readers today, making him a seminal figure in British literature. Richard Jefferies died on April 14, 1887, leaving behind an enduring legacy that celebrates the beauty and power of the natural world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Every little stream is a river that has lost its way."

This quote by Richard Jefferies suggests that even the smallest, seemingly insignificant paths or experiences in life (represented by "every little stream") may have once been part of something larger or more defined ("a river"). Over time, they might lose their way or deviate from their original course. The quote can be interpreted as a reminder that every aspect of our lives, no matter how small, has the potential to contribute significantly and may influence the larger journey we are on. It emphasizes the importance of not underestimating the impact of individual experiences and choices on our overall life's path or purpose.

"The world is mostly silence."

This quote by Richard Jefferies underscores the idea that the natural world, left undisturbed, is a place of tranquility and calm. The silence in this context represents the unspoiled beauty and peacefulness found in nature when humanity's noise and chaos are absent. It encourages us to appreciate the serenity that can be discovered amidst the seemingly quiet corners of our world.

"I have never yet met a man who was not troubled in mind for something, whatever he might show to the contrary."

This quote emphasizes the universal nature of internal struggles and emotional turmoil, irrespective of outward appearances or external successes. It suggests that beneath the facade of strength and composure, every individual harbors some form of worry, concern, or mental distress. The quote underscores the importance of empathy and understanding, as we never truly know the burdens another person may carry.

"The best part of education is excessive idleness, that is to say, an unfixed hour for rising in the morning and going to bed at night."

Richard Jefferies suggests that one of the most valuable aspects of education lies in leisurely indulgence - the lack of strict schedules for waking up and sleeping. This 'excessive idleness' allows individuals to think, dream, imagine, and explore, thereby fostering creativity, independence, and a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. In essence, he advocates for an education that values free time as a crucial component for personal growth.

"Nature is not a place to visit. It is home."

This quote by Richard Jefferies emphasizes that nature is not merely a destination or tourist spot, but rather a home. It suggests a deep-rooted understanding of our connection with the natural world, implying we should view Earth as our home, and treat it accordingly with respect, care, and love. It calls for an appreciation of the environment beyond mere observation, and encourages us to live harmoniously within nature, acknowledging that our existence is intrinsically tied to its health and sustainability.

Almost every labourer has his Sunday suit, very often really good clothes, sometimes glossy black, with the regulation 'chimney pot'. His unfortunate walk betrays him, dress how he will.

- Richard Jefferies

Dress, Very, Chimney, Pot

To the darkness and the night, the spirits seem to have a natural claim - it is their realm; the boldest of us have sometimes felt an unaccountable creeping in the thick darkness.

- Richard Jefferies

Night, Sometimes, Natural, Creeping

The old Greeks dwelt on the tendency of human affairs to drift downwards irresistibly to unhappiness. Guilt - that is, untoward and often involuntary actions - pulls generation after generation heavily as lead down, down, down.

- Richard Jefferies

Generation, Guilt, Tendency, Unhappiness

The heart has a yearning for the unknown, a longing to penetrate the deep shadow and the winding glade, where, as it seems, no human foot has been.

- Richard Jefferies

Deep, Shadow, Been, Unknown

No tyrant, however evil, has yet lacked ready hands to execute his most abominable will. To read how eagerly men have rushed to serve the despot is the bitterest, the saddest matter of history; it is the saddest sight in our own day.

- Richard Jefferies

Hands, However, Bitterest, Eagerly

A kestrel can and does hover in the dead calm of summer days, when there is not the faintest breath of wind. He will, and does, hover in the still, soft atmosphere of early autumn, when the gossamer falls in showers, coming straight down as if it were raining silk.

- Richard Jefferies

Dead, Raining, Atmosphere, Showers

An inspiration - a long, deep breath of the pure air of thought - could alone give health to the heart.

- Richard Jefferies

Deep, Thought, Give, Deep Breath

If every plant and flower were found in all places, the charm of locality would not exist. Everything varies, and that gives the interest.

- Richard Jefferies

Flower, Places, Exist, Locality

Ever since the world began, it has been the belief of mankind that desolate places are the special haunt of supernatural beings.

- Richard Jefferies

Mankind, Been, Began, Desolate

Beauty - what is beauty, forsooth? Form and color; that is, surface only. Fortune - what is fortune? Nothing is ever a pleasure or a real profit to him who has to labour for it. Truth - you die in the pursuit, and the sea beats the beach as it did a thousand years ago. The stolid are alone happy.

- Richard Jefferies

Beauty, Color, Die, Profit

Some, I verily believe, delight to be slave-men; it is a joy to them, and they would not change their condition; not only miserable village wretches, but men in good position, well-to-do sycophants.

- Richard Jefferies

Change, Miserable, Some, Delight

Grief falls upon human beings as the rain, not selecting good or evil, visiting the innocent, condemning those who have done no wrong.

- Richard Jefferies

Rain, Innocent, Visiting, Condemning

The impression left after watching the motions of birds is that of extreme mobility - a life of perpetual impulse checked only by fear.

- Richard Jefferies

Birds, Mobility, Perpetual, Impulse

I desire a greatness of soul, an irradiance of mind, a deeper insight, a broader hope.

- Richard Jefferies

Mind, Desire, Insight, Broader

A man, to read, must read alone. He may make extracts, he may work at books in company; but to read, to absorb, he must be solitary.

- Richard Jefferies

Work, May, Read, Extract

Science, as illustrated by the printing press, the telegraph, the railway, is a double-edged sword. At the same moment that it puts an enormous power in the hands of the good man, it also offers an equal advantage to the evil disposed.

- Richard Jefferies

Good, Moment, Hands, Railway

The 'crownd' is still the unit, the favourite coin of the labourers, especially the elder folk. They use the word something in the same sense as the dollar, and look with regret upon the gradual disappearance of the broad silver disc with the figure of 'St. Gaarge' conquering the dragon.

- Richard Jefferies

Regret, Use, Elder, Disc

The cottages erected by farmers or by landlords are now, one and all, fit and proper habitations for human beings; and I verifly believe it would be impossible throughout the length and breadth of Wiltshire to find a single bad cottage on any large estate, so well and so thoroughly have the landed proprietors done their work.

- Richard Jefferies

Impossible, Bad, Breadth, Landlords

It is quite true that women like courage, and that boldness often goes a long way; but it is questionable whether with high-bred natures a subdued, quiet, and delicate manner does not go still further.

- Richard Jefferies

Delicate, Still, Natures, Boldness

It would seem that the ant works its way tentatively, and, observing where it fails, tries another place and succeeds.

- Richard Jefferies

Succeeds, Tries, Works, Observing

The labourer's muscle is that of a cart-horse, his motions lumbering and slow.

- Richard Jefferies

Slow, His, Labourer, Motions

Many labourers can trace their descent from farmers or well-to-do people, and it is not uncommon to find here and there a man who believes that he is entitled to a large property in Chancery, or elsewhere, as the heir.

- Richard Jefferies

Here, Entitled, Large, Well-To-Do

When even the most strictly logical mind looks round and investigates the phenomena attending its own existence, perhaps the first fact to attract attention by its strongly marked prominence is the remarkable loneliness of man. He stands alone.

- Richard Jefferies

Fact, Own, Attract, Phenomena

The workman in the true sense of the word - the artist in guns - is either extinct, or hidden in an obscure corner. There is no individuality about modern guns. One is exactly like another.

- Richard Jefferies

Guns, Hidden, Workman, Individuality

To the soul, there is no past and no future; all is, and will be ever, in now. For artificial purposes time is mutually agreed on, but there is really no such thing.

- Richard Jefferies

Soul, Past, Will, Purposes

Give me power of soul, so that I may actually effect by its will that which I strive for.

- Richard Jefferies

Give, May, Which, Give Me

This sunlight linked me through the ages to that past consciousness.

- Richard Jefferies

Nature, Sunlight, Through, Linked

I believe in the human form; let me find something, some method, by which that form may achieve the utmost beauty.

- Richard Jefferies

Some, Which, Method, I Believe In

A woman can see a woman so clearly - faluts, excellences, details - all are so clear to her.

- Richard Jefferies

Woman, Her, See, Details

There are people in this servile world who will endure any trampling, and at the first beck rush delightedly to proffer their assistance.

- Richard Jefferies

People, Will, Beck, Assistance

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