Quote by Virginia Woolf

One feels even in the midst of the traffic, or waking at night, Clarissa was positive, a particular hush, or solemnity; an indescribable pause; a suspense before Big Ben strikes. There! Out it boomed. First a warning, musical; then the hour, irrevocable. The leaden circles dissolved in the air. Such fools we are, she thought, crossing Victoria Street. For Heaven only knows why one loves it so, how one sees it so, making it up, building it round one, tumbling it, creating it every moment afresh; but the veriest frumps, the most dejected of miseries sitting on doorsteps (drink their downfall) do the same; can't be dealt with, she felt positive, by Acts of Parliament for that very reason: they love life. In people's eyes, in the swing, tramp, and trudge; in the bellow and the uproar; the carriages, motor cars, omnibuses, vans, sandwich men shuffling and swinging; brass bands; barrel organs; in the triumph and the jingle and the strange high singing of some aeroplane overhead was what she loved; life; London; this moment in June.

One feels even in the midst of the traffic, or waking at nig

Summary

This quote, from Virginia Woolf's novel Mrs. Dalloway, captures the protagonist Clarissa's profound connection to the bustling city of London. Despite the noise and chaos of daily life, Clarissa perceives a certain stillness and significance, a suspended anticipation before the chiming of Big Ben. She ponders the mysterious joy and allure of life, noting that even those in the depths of despair find solace in it. Through the vivid descriptions of the city's sights and sounds - from carriages to barrel organs to bustling crowds - Clarissa's love for life and London in this specific June moment becomes apparent.

Topics

By Virginia Woolf

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

I have so much respect for my mom and all the women across t

I have so much respect for my mom and all the women across the world.

Jessica Simpson

Even in earliest youth my fondest desire was to understand N

Even in earliest youth my fondest desire was to understand Nature, and thus to come closer to the truth; a truth that I was unable to discover either at school or in church.

Viktor Schauberger

Oh, we'm come up from Somerset, Where the cider apples grow,

Oh, we'm come up from Somerset, Where the cider apples grow, We'm come to see your Majesty, An' how the world do go. And when you're wanting anyone, If you'll kindly let us know, We'll all come up from Somerset, Because we loves you so!

Every man who is high up loves to think that he has done it

Every man who is high up loves to think that he has done it all himself; and the wife smiles, and lets it go at that.

Success & Failure

For whatever reason, maybe it's because of my story, but peo

For whatever reason, maybe it's because of my story, but people associate Livestrong with exercise and physical fitness, health and lifestyle choices like that.

Lance Armstrong

The fly that touches honey cannot use it's wings; so too the

The fly that touches honey cannot use it's wings; so too the soul that clings to spiritual sweetness ruins it's freedom and hinders contemplation.

Ghose Aurobindo

Haste to thie kiste, thie onlie dortoure bedde. Cale, as the

Haste to thie kiste, thie onlie dortoure bedde. Cale, as the claie whiche will gre on thie hedde, Is Charitie and Love aminge highe elves; Knightis and Barons live for pleasure and themselves.

Thomas Chatterton

When you suffer, think not on how you can escape suffering,

When you suffer, think not on how you can escape suffering, but concentrate your efforts on what kind of inner moral and spiritual perfection this suffering requires.

That it is better 100 guilty Persons should escape than that

That it is better 100 guilty Persons should escape than that one innocent Person should suffer, is a Maxim that has been long and generally approved.

Benjamin Franklin

My parents always made education and school the number one p

My parents always made education and school the number one priority. They believed that an education is the best gift you can give to your child.

We are very anxious to bring the Jews of Morocco over and we

We are very anxious to bring the Jews of Morocco over and we are doing all we can to achieve this. But we cannot count on the Jews of Morocco alone to build the country, because they have not been educated for this.

I am sure of nothing so little as my own intentions.

I am sure of nothing so little as my own intentions.

Lord (George Gordon) Byron