It may be laid down as a general rule that if a man begins to sing, no one will take any notice of his song except his fellow human beings. This is true even if his song is surpassingly beautiful. Other men may be in raptures at his skill, but the rest of creation is, by and large, unmoved. Perhaps a cat or a dog may look at him; his horse, if it is an exceptionally intelligent beast, may pause in cropping the grass, but that is the extent of it. But when the fairy sang, the whole world listened to him. Stephen felt clouds pause in their passing; he felt sleeping hills shift and murmur; he felt cold mists dance. He understood for the first time that the world is not dumb at all, but merely waiting for someone to speak to it in a language it understands. In the fairy's song the earth recognized the names by which it called itself. Susanna Clarke
About This Quote

In this quote, the author is giving the opinion that even if a person's song is beautiful and captivating, no one will listen to them except other people. When we speak and sing to others, we are often met with great responses and positive feedback. However, the conversation we have with ourselves is often unreciprocated and unappreciated. We may be singing to ourselves only because we wish someone would hear us. The earth recognizes itself in the names it calls itself.

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  1. He said, "Were he only like his sister–what a difference that would make! For there never was such a sweet and gentle lady! I hear her footsteps, as she goes about the world. I hear the swish-swish-swish of her silken gown and the jingle-jangle of...

  2. Most of us are naturally inclined to struggle against the restrictions our friends and family impose upon us, but if we are so unfortunate as to lose a loved one, what a difference then! Then the restriction becomes a sacred trust.

  3. When you're writing, you're creating something out of nothing. .. A successful piece of writing is like doing a successful piece of magic.", 6 March 2012]

  4. Time and I have quarrelled. All hours are midnight now. I had a clock and a watch, but I destroyed them both. I could not bear the way they mocked me.

  5. I was told once by some country people that a magician should never tell his dreams because the telling will make them come true. But I say that is great nonsense.

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