"The present was an egg laid by the past that had the future inside its shell"

This quote by Zora Neale Hurston is a metaphor for the principle of time and how the past, present, and future are all adjoined. The present is compared to an egg, which is a sign of brand-new life and potential. The past is described as the one who laid the egg, implying that it is responsible for developing the present. And within the present, the future is included, similar to how a developing chick is inside an egg. This quote suggests that our actions and options in the previous shape our present, and in turn, our present will determine our future. It highlights the cyclical nature of time and the value of learning from the past to develop a much better future.