"Towns oftener swamp one than carry one out onto the big ocean of life"

In this quote, author David Herbert Lawrence is recommending that living in a small town can frequently hinder one's development and capacity. He compares it to being stuck in an overload, where one is unable to progress and check out the vast opportunities and experiences that life has to offer. Instead, the town serves as a barrier, trapping individuals in a stagnant and limited existence. Lawrence indicates that it is better to venture out into the unknown, the "big ocean of life," even if it might be overwhelming and uncertain, rather than being restricted to the security and familiarity of a small town.