The quote "Leaves turned to soil beneath my feet. Thus it is, trees eat themselves" from David Mitchell's novel Cloud Atlas reflects a cycle of life and decay. It highlights how nature reuses its own components, symbolizing a process of transformation and regeneration. The imagery of leaves becoming soil suggests that all living things contribute to a larger ecosystem, where death leads to new life.

This phrase encapsulates a profound message about interconnectedness in nature. The idea of trees 'eating themselves' can be interpreted as a metaphor for self-sustainability, where every stage of life feeds into the next. Through this lens, the quote invites readers to contemplate the delicate balance of life, death, and rebirth, emphasizing the importance of understanding our place within the natural world.