A flower's fragrance declares to all the world that it is fertile, available, and desirable, its sex organs oozing with nectar.
Its smell reminds us in vestigial ways of fertility, vigor, life-force, all the optimism, expectancy, and passionate bloom of youth.
We inhale its ardent aroma and, no matter what our ages, we feel young and nubile in a world aflame with desire.
- Diane Ackerman
If there were nothing else to trouble us, the fate of the flowers would make us sad.
- John Lancaster Spalding
To me, the meanest flower that blows can give thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.
- William Wordsworth
Observe this dew-drenched rose of Tyrian gardens
A rose today. But you will ask in vain
Tomorrow what it is, and yesterday
It was the dust, the sunshine, and the rains.
- Christina rosetti