Quotes from Lewis Carroll

And ever, as the story drained The wells of fancy dry, And faintly strove that weary one To put the subject by, The rest next time-- It is next time! The Happy voice cry. Thus grew the tale of Wonderland

Finding meaning, like losing meaning, involves pleasure as well as pain. But then losing meaning, like finding it, does too, as the best nonsense reminds us.

What does it matter where my body happens to be?' he said. 'My mind goes on working all the same.

I daresay you haven't had much practice. When I was your age I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes, I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.

It is the one of the great secrets of life that those things are most worth doing,we do for others.

We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad. [...] You must be, or you wouldn't be here.

Must a name mean something? Alice asked doubtfully. Of course it must, Humpty Dumpty said with a short laugh; my name means the shape I am - and a good handsome shape it is, too. With a name like yours, you might be any shape, almost.

She generally gave herself very good advice, (though she very seldom followed it), and

Begin at the beginning,' the King said gravely, 'and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

Alice! A childish story take, And with a gentile hand Lay it where Childhood dreams are twined In memory's mystic band, Like pilgrim's withered wreath of flowers Pluck'd in a far off land.

It's a large as life and twice as natural

It's done by everyone minding their own business

I said you LOOKED like an egg, Sir. And some eggs are very pretty, you know.

She felt a little nervous about this; 'for it might end, you know,' said Alice to herself, 'in my going out altogether, like a candle. I wonder what I should be like then?' And she tried to fancy what the flame of a candle looks like after the candle is blown out, for she could not remember ever having seen such a thing.

I wish I hadn't cried so much!

In most gardens, the Tiger-lily said, they make the beds too soft-so that the flowers are always asleep.

A tale begun in other days, When summer suns were glowing - A simple chime, that served to time The rhythm of your rowing - Whose echoes live in memory yet, Though envious years would say 'forget.

The master was an old Turtle--we used to call him Tortoise--' Why did you call him Tortoise, if he wasn't one?' Alice asked. We called him Tortoise because he taught us,' said the Mock Turtle angrily; 'really you are very dull!' You ought to be ashamed of yourself for asking such a simple question,' added the Gryphon; and then they both sat silent and looked at poor Alice, who felt ready to sink into the earth.

All in the golden afternoon Full leisurely we glide; For both our oars, with little skill, By little arms are plied, While little hands make vain pretence Our wanderings to guide.

Be sure the safest rule is that we should not dare to live in any scene in which we dare not die.

stuff and nonsense

Well, then,' the Cat went on, 'you see, a dog growls when it's angry, and wags its tail when it's pleased. Now I growl when I'm pleased, and wag my tail when I'm angry. Therefore I'm mad.

simply—Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise.

It is not real work unless you would rather be doing something else.