"Deprivation is for me what daffodils were for Wordsworth"
- Philip Larkin
About this Quote
Philip Larkin's quote is a comparison between his own experience of deprivation and the happiness that William Wordsworth found in the charm of daffodils. Larkin is suggesting that deprivation is his source of motivation, simply as Wordsworth discovered inspiration in the beauty of nature. This quote speaks with the idea that charm can be found in unforeseen places, and that even in the middle of deprivation, there can be minutes of delight and inspiration.
Larkin's quote also speaks with the concept that appeal is subjective. What one person discovers inspiring and lovely, another might not. Wordsworth discovered charm in the daffodils, while Larkin found beauty in his own experience of deprivation. This quote suggests that beauty remains in the eye of the beholder, and that it is possible to discover charm in even the most tough of scenarios.
Ultimately, Larkin's quote is a pointer that appeal can be discovered in unforeseen places, which it is possible to discover happiness and inspiration even in the midst of deprivation. It is a pointer that beauty is subjective, and that it is possible to discover charm in even the most difficult of scenarios.
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