He could see plainly that she was not herself. That is, he could not see that she was becoming herself and daily casting aside that fictitious self which we assume like a garment with which to appear before the world. Kate Chopin More Quotes by Kate Chopin More Quotes From Kate Chopin Perhaps it is better to wake up after all, even to suffer, rather than to remain a dupe to illusions all one's life. Kate Chopin wake-up awakening suffering I wonder if anyone else has an ear so tuned and sharpened as I have, to detect the music, not of the spheres, but of earth, subtleties of major and minor chord that the wind strikes upon the tree branches. Have you ever heard the earth breathe? Kate Chopin earth tree wind The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace. Kate Chopin ocean nature beach The artist must possess the courageous soul that dares and defies Kate Chopin courageous artist soul There are some people who leave impressions not so lasting as the imprint of an oar upon the water. Kate Chopin memorable water people Have you ever heard the earth breath? Kate Chopin branches earth clever She was moved by a kind of commiseration... a pity for that colorless existence which never uplifted its possessor beyond the region of blind contentment, in which no moment of anguish ever visited her soul, in which she would never have the taste of life's delirium. Kate Chopin delirium-tremens contentment soul The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. Kate Chopin ocean nature beach It is greater than the stars - that moving procession of human energy; greater than the palpitating earth and the things growing thereon. Kate Chopin stars energy moving but whatever came, she had resolved never again to belong to another than herself. Kate Chopin awakened inspirational-life awakening She wanted something to happen - something, anything: she did not know what. Kate Chopin knows happens wanted The mother-women seemed to prevail that summer at Grand Isle. It was easy to know them, fluttering about with extended, protecting wings when any harm, real or imaginary, threatened their precious brood. They were women who idolized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels. Kate Chopin husband mother summer I would give up the unessential; I would give up my money, I would give up my life for my children; but I wouldnt give myself. I can't make it more clear; it's only something I am beginning to comprehend, which is revealing itself to me. Kate Chopin revealing giving-up children The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth. Kate Chopin strong wings bird But the beginning of things, of a world especially, is necessarily vague, tangled, chaotic, and exceedingly disturbing. How few of us ever emerge from such beginning! How many souls perish in its tumult! Kate Chopin tangled murmuring soul The voice of the sea is seductive, never ceasing, whispering, clamoring, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander in abysses of solitude. Kate Chopin seductive voice sea …there would be no powerful will binding hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature…And yet she had loved him- sometimes. Often she had not. What did it matter! What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being. Kate Chopin persistence powerful believe It was not despair, but it seemed to her as if life were passing by, leaving its promises broken and unfulfilled. Yet there were other days when she listened, was led on and deceived by fresh promises which her youth had held out to her. Kate Chopin passing-by leaving broken Well, for instance, when I left her today, she put her arms around me and felt my shoulder blades, to see if my wings were strong, she said. Kate Chopin arms strong wings Do you suppose a woman knows why she loves? Does she select? Does she say to herself, 'Go to! here is a distinguished statesman with presidential possibilities; I shall proceed to fall in love with him.' or, 'I shall set my heart upon this musician, whose fame is on every tongue?' or 'this financier, who controls the world's money markets?' Kate Chopin presidential falling-in-love heart
