Top 3 The Parable of the Sower quotes
“In order to rise From its own ashes A phoenix First Must Burn.” - Chapter 14
This is a quotation found at the beginning of the chapter that details the burning of Lauren's neighborhood and the murder of her family. The author foreshadows the burning of the neighborhood but imbues hope through the symbol of the phoenix. The phoenix is a mythological creature that was said to burn to ashes at the end of its life, and from its own ashes rise again, renewed. Rebirth is a recurring theme throughout the Parable of the Sower, and with this chapter, we see Lauren being reborn after her family and home have been utterly destroyed.
“A biological conscience is better than no conscience at all.” -Chapter 9
Lauren labels her hyperempathy as a biological conscience and believes the world would be a better place if everyone were forced to experience the pain that they caused. Lauren thinks this way after she begins to see deterioration in the character of her stepbrother, Keith. Keith is the polar opposite of Lauren, he is cruel and merciless, whereas she is kind and empathetic. At first, Lauren is interested to learn how her brother had managed to survive in the world but finds herself shocked at his callousness as he talks of the man he had shot and robbed. Keith is completely unaffected by his actions, so much so that he isn't sure whether the man he had shot had died or not. Her other stepbrother, Marcus, remarks that people with Hyperempathy would make ideal slaves as they would be relatively easy to subdue. Lauren is forced to face this reality when she later discovers that slave owners preferred slaves with Hyperempathy.
“Taking care of other people can be a good cure for nightmares.” -Chapter 20
Lauren says the above when she is discussing the rescue of Justin, a three-year-old orphaned boy, with Jill Gilchrist. Justin is an interesting addition to the group since he could objectively be seen as a drain on already scarce resources, and a liability given his natural curiosity. Yet, the group decides to include Justin, and none of them protest his inclusion. Lauren directs her words at Allie, who has recently suffered the loss of a young baby boy, but the words can be applied to nearly everyone in the Earthseed group for all of them have witnessed grave scenes and suffered the loss of loved ones.
