There could be no honor in a sure success, but much might be wrested from a sure defeat.
—T. E. Lawrence (1888–1935) British Soldier, Scholar, Writer
I never had any other desire so strong, and so like to covetousness, as that one which I have had always, that I might be master at last of a small house and a large Garden.
—Abraham Cowley (1618–67) English Poet, Essayist
What a man needs in gardening is a cast-iron back, with a hinge in it.
—Charles Dudley Warner (1829–1900) American Essayist, Novelist
Plant trees. They give us two of the most crucial elements for our survival: oxygen and books.
—A. Whitney Brown (b.1952) American Comedian, TV Personality
Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul.
—The Holy Quran Sacred Scripture of Islam
Unemployment is capitalism’s way of getting you to plant a garden.
—Orson Scott Card (b.1951) American Author, Critic, Political Activist
A flower is an educated weed.
—Luther Burbank (1849–1926) American Botanist, Scientist
He who is born with a silver spoon in his mouth is generally considered a fortunate person, but his good fortune is small compared to that of the happy mortal who enters this world with a passion for flowers in his soul.
—Celia Thaxter (1835–94) American Poet, Writer
A garden is always a series of losses set against a few triumphs, like life itself.
—May Sarton (1912–95) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Novelist
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922) French Novelist
Nothing is more beautiful than the loveliness of the woods before sunrise.
—George Washington Carver (1864–1943) American Scientist, Botanist, Educator, Inventor
Good timber does not grow with ease:
The stronger wind, the stronger trees.
—Douglas Malloch (1877–1938) American Poet, Short-story Writer
With a few flowers in my garden, half a dozen pictures and some books, I live without envy.
—Lope de Vega (1562–1635) Spanish Playwright, Poet
In the hope of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
A garden is the best alternative therapy.
—Germaine Greer (b.1939) Australia Academic, Journalist, Scholar, Writer
Flowers leave their fragrance on the hand that bestows them.
—Chinese Proverb
Hoeing in the garden on a bright, soft May day, when you are not obligated to, is nearly equal to the delight of going trouting.
—Charles Dudley Warner (1829–1900) American Essayist, Novelist
Gardening gives one back a sense of proportion about everything – except itself.
—May Sarton (1912–95) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Novelist
Art is the unceasing effort to compete with the beauty of flowers and never succeeding.
—Marc Chagall (1889–1985) Russian-born French Painter, Graphic Artist
April comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers.
—Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892–1950) American Poet, Playwright, Feminist
Us sing and dance, make faces and give flower bouquets, trying to be loved. You ever notice that trees do everything to git attention we do, except walk?
—Alice Walker (b.1944) American Novelist, Activist
I am fully and intensely aware that plants are conscious of love and respond to it as they do to nothing else.
—Celia Thaxter (1835–94) American Poet, Writer
It is a golden maxim to cultivate the garden for the nose, and the eyes will take care of themselves.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere.
—Vincent van Gogh (1853–90) Dutch Painter
The trouble with gardening is that it does not remain an avocation. It becomes an obsession.
—Phyllis McGinley (1905–78) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Writer of Children’s Books
Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian