Quote by D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
We make a mistake forsaking England and moving out into the periphery of life. After all, Taormina, Ceylon, Africa, America -- as far as we go, they are only the negation of what we ourselves stand for and are: and we're rather like Jonahs running away from the place we belong.
Summary
This quote suggests that when we leave our home country, in this case, England, and venture out to other places in the world, we are essentially rejecting our own identity and values. The author compares various exotic locations like Taormina, Ceylon, Africa, and America to show that despite their appeal, they only serve as a contrast or opposite to what we truly represent. It likens our departure to Jonah's attempt to escape his destiny, implying that by leaving our homeland, we are running away from where we truly belong.