Quote by Virginia Woolf
It seemed now as if, touched by human penitence and all its toil, divine goodness had parted the curtain and displayed behind it, single, distinct, the hare erect; the wave falling; the boat rocking, which did we deserve them, should be ours always. But alas, divine goodness, twitching the cord, draws the curtain; it does not please him; he covers his treasures in a drench of hail, and so breaks them, so confuses them that it seems impossible that their calm should ever return or that we should ever compose from their fragments a perfect whole or read in the littered pieces the clear words of truth. For our penitence deserves a glimpse only; our toil respite only.
Summary
This quote depicts the fleeting nature of divine goodness and the unpredictability of life's circumstances. It suggests that despite our human penitence and efforts, moments of clarity and serenity are short-lived. The reference to the hare, wave, and boat symbolizes precious and beautiful moments that could be ours forever if we truly deserved them. However, it further emphasizes that divine goodness has the power to withhold these treasures and shatter them with the force of a hailstorm. The quote conveys the challenge of finding lasting calm and understanding in a chaotic and fragmented world.