Who said “Men are like the earth and we are the moon; we turn always one side to them, and they…”?

Verified

Olive Schreiner. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Story of an African Farm (1883)

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“Men are like the earth and we are the moon; we turn always one side to them, and they think there is no other, because they don't see it -- but there is.”
— Olive Schreiner
VerifiedThe Story of an African Farm (1883) · evidenceMen and Women

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Story of an African Farm (1883).

APA

Schreiner, O. (n.d.). Men are like the earth and we are the moon; we turn always one side to them, and they think there is no other, because they don't see it -- but there is. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/25723-men-are-like-the-earth-and-we-are/

MLA

Schreiner, Olive. “Men are like the earth and we are the moon; we turn always one side to them, and they think there is no other, because they don't see it -- but there is.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/25723-men-are-like-the-earth-and-we-are/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Schreiner, Olive. “Men are like the earth and we are the moon; we turn always one side to them, and they think there is no other, because they don't see it -- but there is.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/25723-men-are-like-the-earth-and-we-are/.

Related quotes

More quotes by Olive Schreiner

“There was never a great man who had not a great mother.”
Mothers
“Everything has two sides -- the outside that is ridiculous, and the inside that is solemn.”
Solemnity
“My feeling is that there is nothing in life but refraining from hurting others, and comforting those that are sad.”
Kindness
“We were equals once when we lay new-born babes on our nurse's knees. We will be equal again when they tie up our jaws for the last sleep.”
Equality
“Perhaps the old monks were right when they tried to root love out; perhaps the poets are right when they try to water it. It is a blood-red flower, with the color of sin; but there is always the scent of a god about it.”
Love
“The troubles of the young are soon over; they leave no external mark. If you wound the tree in its youth the bark will quickly cover the gash; but when the tree is very old, peeling the bark off, and looking carefully, you will see the scar there still. All that is buried is not dead.”
Injury
All 15 Olive Schreiner quotes →