James Clavell Quote

First she studied her husband's flower arrangement. He had chosen the blossom of a single white wild rose and put a single pearl of water on the green leaf, and set it on red stones. Autumn is coming, he was suggesting with the flower, talking through the flower, do not weep for the time of fall, the time of dying when the earth begins to sleep; enjoy the time of beginning again and experience the glorious cool of the autumn air on this summer evening... soon the tear will vanish and the rose, only the stones will remain — soon you and I will vanish and only the stones will remain.

Ch. 43 - Shōgun (1975)