Quotes About Wonder

Possessed by the power of the gorgeous night, she seemed at one and the same moment annihilated and glorified.

And if we believe that God is everywhere, why should we not think Him present even in the coincidences that sometimes seem so strange? For, if He be in the things that coincide, He must be in the coincidence of those things.

George MacDonald

for childhood is the deepest heart of humanity-its divine heart;

There is more of the marvellous in an old library than ever any magic could work!

Nothing almost sees miracles But misery.

Who invented music? Some one must have made the delight of it possible! With his own share in its joy he had had nothing to do! Was Chance its grand inventor, its great ingenieur? Why or how should Chance love loveliness that was not, and make it be, that others might love it? Could it be a deaf God, or a being that did not care and would not listen, that invented music? No; music did not come of itself, neither could the source of it be devoid of music!

Of all children how can the children of God be old?

it is no use trying to account for things in Fairy Land; and one who travels there soon learns to forget the very idea of doing so, and takes everything as it comes; like a child, who, being in a chronic condition of wonder, is surprised at nothing.

George MacDonald

Could we see things always as we have sometimes seen them—and as one day we must always see them, only far better—should we ever know dullness? Greatly as we might enjoy all forms of art, much as we might learn through the eyes and thoughts of other men, should we fly to these for deliverance from ennui , from any haunting discomfort? Should we not just open our own child-eyes, look upon the things themselves, and be consoled?

The moon is beautiful partly because we cannot reach it, (the sea is impressive because one can never be sure of crossing it safely. Even the pleasure one takes in a flower — and this is true even of a botanist who knows all there is to be known about the flower is dependent partly on the sense of mystery.

Now and again I go out at night and watch for meteors. The stars are a free show; it don't cost anything to use your eyes.

It's a big world, and I really like it.

Why were we made just so, to find so many things that happened every day pretty?

And I woslike: O wow.

Great sobs choked his utterance. He buried his head in his hands, and his tall frame was convulsed with emotion. I stood at the foot of the bed, my eyes full of tears, looking at the man in silent, awe-stricken wonder. His grief unnerved him, and made him a weak, passive child. I did not dream that his rugged nature could be so moved. I shall never forget those solemn moments—genius and greatness weeping over love's lost idol.

If they ever get around to building The Short Story Museum, I think they'd better carve this over the doorway: 'A short story works to remind us that if we are not sometimes baffled and amazed and undone by the world around us, rendered speechless and stunned, perhaps we are not paying close enough attention.

I am trying to rekindle my feeling of fondness for the world.

Why were we made just so, to find so many things that happen every day pretty?

What a beautiful country this must have been once, when you could hop in a coupe and buy a bag of burgers and drive, drive, drive, stopping to swim in a river or sleep in a grove of trees without worrying about intaking mutagens or having the militia arrest you and send you to the Everglades for eternity.

In those girls I found my Rome, my Paris, my Constantinople.

When will I death? Might I death alone? Probably yes Little scared about that. I must say But am not death yet Not dead yet. Not yet. And not yet. World lays out before me new with each click of step and swish of aspen leaves above for that I say thanks For as long as world is shiny new there is no death and what lovely may I not yet do?

Or sit they girt by laws unknown Whereto the senses serve as bars – With fire of unrecorded stars That light a heaven not our own? ("The Testimony of the Suns")