George MacDonald (December 10, 1824 – September 18, 1905) was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister. He was a pioneering figure in the field of fantasy literature and the mentor of fellow writer Lewis Carroll. His writings have been cited as a major literary influence by many notable authors including W.H. Auden, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Walter de la Mare, E. Nesbit and Madeleine L'Engle. (Click here for full Wikipedia article)
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A beast does not know that he is a beast, and the nearer a man gets to being a beast, the less he knows it.
Alas! how easily things go wrong!
Attitudes are more important than facts.
Endurance must conquer, where force could not reach.
Few delights can equal the presence of one whom we trust utterly.
Friends, if we be honest with ourselves, we shall be honest with each other.
How strange this fear of death is! We are never frightened at a sunset.
I think the reason children get tired of their toys so soon is just that it is against human nature to be really interested in what is of no use.
It is not in the nature of politics that the best men should be elected. The best men do not want to govern their fellowmen.
It is not the cares of today, but the cares of tomorrow, that weigh a man down.
It may be an infinitely less evil to murder a man than to refuse to forgive him. The former may be the act of a moment of passion: the latter is the heart’s choice.
Love is the opener as well as closer of eyes.
Many a thief is a better man than many a clergyman, and miles nearer to the gate of the kingdom.
The best preparation for the future is the present well seen to, and the last duty done.
The first thing a kindness deserves is acceptance, the second, transmission.
To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.
To have what we want is riches; but to be able to do without is power.
To receive honestly is the best thanks for a good thing.
We are often unable to tell people what they need to know because they want to know something else.
Where there is no choice, we do well to make no difficulty.
You can't live on amusement. It is the froth on water- an inch deep and then the mud.
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(December 10 is also the birthday of Alexander Courage and Emily Dickinson.)
Categories: George MacDonald, Quotes of the day
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