I stand and listen to people speaking french in the stores and in the street. It’s such a pert, crisp language, elegant as ruffling taffeta.

Separate from the other unnamed billions who walk the earth, each of these little groups of three or five or twelve, brought together by the shuffle of chance, then welded by blood, sees in itself the whole of earth, or all that matters of it.
BELVA PLAIN

Blood Family Grief
It was unwise to plan too carefully. It took only one great failure to learn that lesson.
BELVA PLAIN

Lessons Plans Women
I stand and listen to people speaking french in the stores and in the street. It’s such a pert, crisp language, elegant as ruffling taffeta.
BELVA PLAIN

Language People Speaking
How helpless we are, like netted birds, when we are caught by desire!
BELVA PLAIN

Bird Caught Desire
What happens to one of the three or five or twelve will happen to them all. Whatever grief or triumph may touch any one will touch every one, as they are carried forward into the unknowable under the brilliant, terrifying sun which nourishes all.
BELVA PLAIN

Carried Happen Touch Unknown
… wore sorrow and anger like a worn-out coat and would not throw it away.
BELVA PLAIN

Coats Sorrow Worn
All is pattern, all life, but we can’t always see the pattern when we’re part of it.
BELVA PLAIN

Lesson Life Pattern
Danger hides in beauty and beauty in danger.
BELVA PLAIN

Beauty Danger Hide
Oh, lovely Europe, your flowers and your wine, your bread, your music.
BELVA PLAIN

Europe Flower Wine

More Belva Plain Quotes