Ch. XXIV, pp. 148–149.
“

A habit grew upon me of consulting the sea as soon as I rose in the morning. Its aspect decided how my day would be spent. I watched it at last with constant study of its changes, seeking to understand its effect upon me mentally, and ever attracted by its awful materiality, for it always talked to me of the ease with which it could drown me. I was drawn to its shores by night; its vague sphere, swayed by some influence mightier than itself, which made its voice articulate, drew my soul out beside it, to utter speech for speech.

— Elizabeth Drew Stoddard

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "A habit grew upon me of consulting the sea as soon as I rose in the morning. Its aspect decided how my day would be spent. I watched it at last with constant study of its changes, seeking to understand its effect upon me mentally, and ever attracted by its awful materiality, for it always talked to me of the ease with which it could drown me. I was drawn to its shores by night; its vague sphere, swayed by some influence mightier than itself, which made its voice articulate, drew my soul out beside it, to utter speech for speech." in the context of "Ch. XXIV, pp. 148–149." to mean that wisdom is timeless.

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Source: Wikiquote: "Elizabeth Drew Stoddard" (Quotes, The Morgesons (1862): New York: Carleton, 1862) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Elizabeth Drew Stoddard

About Elizabeth Drew Stoddard

Elizabeth Drew Stoddard (née Barstow) (May 6, 1823 – August 1, 1902) was a United States poet and novelist.