"And out of darkness came the hands that reach thro' nature, moulding men"
- Alfred Lord Tennyson
About this Quote
This quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson talks to the power of the divine. It suggests that out of darkness, or turmoil, something higher is at work. This something is represented by the hands that reach through nature, or the natural world, and shape and type men. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the power of God, or a greater power, to form and form us into individuals we are suggested to be. It could also be translated as a reminder that we are all linked to the natural world, and that our actions have an impact on it. Eventually, this quote speaks to the power of something higher than ourselves, and the significance of recognizing our connection to the natural world.
"Art is not merely an imitation of the reality of nature, but in truth a metaphysical supplement to the reality of nature, placed alongside thereof for its conquest"
"Though nature be ever so generous, yet can she not make a hero alone. Fortune must contribute her part too; and till both concur, the work cannot be perfected"