If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.
—Buddhist Teaching
Remember that the most beautiful things in the world are the most useless; peacocks and lilies, for example.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
Stars of earth, these golden flowers; emblems of our own great resurrection; emblems of the bright and better land.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
The flower that smells the sweetest is shy and lowly.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
Flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words. They are the hieroglyphics of angels, loved by all men for the beauty of the character, though few can decipher even fragments of their meaning.
—Lydia Maria Child (1802–80) American Abolitionist, Writer
A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
One of the most attractive things about the flowers is their beautiful reserve.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
What a pity flowers can utter no sound?—A singing rose, a whispering violet, a murmuring honeysuckle,—oh, what a rare and exquisite miracle would these be!
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Flowers are restful to look at. They have neither emotions nor conflicts.
—Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychoanalytic
I hate flowers—I paint them because they’re cheaper than models and they don’t move.
—Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986) American Painter
When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other.
—Chinese Proverb
The flower is the poetry of reproduction. It is an example of the eternal seductiveness of life.
—Jean Giraudoux (1882–1944) French Novelist, Playwright, Essayist
I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940) Lithuanian-American Anarchist, Feminist
To create a little flower is the labor of ages.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
Perfumes are the feelings of flowers.
—Heinrich Heine (1797–1856) German Poet, Writer
Flowers are happy things.
—P. G. Wodehouse (1881–1975) British Novelist, Short-story Writer, Playwright
To cultivate a garden is to walk with God.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
Teach me, Father, how to go
Softly as the grasses grow;
Hush my soul to meet the shock
Of the wild world as a rock;
But my spirit, propt with power,
Make as simple as a flower.
Let the dry heart fill its cup,
Like a poppy looking up;
Let life lightly wear her crown,
Like a poppy looking down,
When its heart is filled with dew,
And its life begins anew.
—Edwin Markham (1852–1940) American Poet, Educator
Where flowers bloom so does hope.
—Lady Bird Johnson (1912–2007) First Lady of the United States, Conservationist
The fairest thing in nature, a flower, still has its roots in earth and manure.
—D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930) English Novelist, Playwright, Poet, Essayist, Literary Critic
Flowers are without hope. Because hope is tomorrow and flowers have no tomorrow.
—Antonio Porchia (1885–1968) Italian Poet
Earth laughs in flowers.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Roses fall, but the thorns remain.
—Dutch Proverb
The Amen of nature is always a flower.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
You like buttercups, dewy sweet,
And crocuses, framed in snow;
I like roses, born of the heat,
And the red carnation’s glow.
—Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919) American Poet, Journalist
Flowers are God’s way of smiling
—Common Proverb
The lotus flower is troubled
At the sun’s resplendent light;
With sunken head and sadly
She dreamily waits for the night.
—Heinrich Heine (1797–1856) German Poet, Writer
Lovely flowers are the smiles of God’s goodness.
—William Wilberforce (1759–1833) English Philanthropist, Reformer
Flowers… are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out-values all the utilities of the world.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of yesterday
—Common Proverb