Pilgrim at Tinker Creek Exploration Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

Like the bear who went over the mountain, I went out to see what I could see. And, I might as well warn you, like the bear, all that I could see was the other side of the mountain: more of the same. (1.28)

This is a literal example of not being able to see the forest for the trees. When Annie goes out walking in the woods, she sees a whole lot of woods, and she realizes she has to look deeper to see something new.

Quote #2

I would like to know grasses and sedges—and care. Then my least journey into the world would be a field trip, a series of happy recognitions. (2.3)

Caring is central here: If you're really into something, you always see something new in it. For example, if you love baseball, you'll see something new in every game; if you don't, though, it all just looks like a bunch of guys hitting a ball and running around.

Quote #3

The point is that I just don't know what the lover knows; I just can't see the artificial obvious that those in the know construct. (2.8)

Translation: The more we know about something and the more passionate about it we are, the more detail we can see when we look at it.