A man must learn to love his children, not because they are his, but because they are children, else his love will be scarcely a better thing at last than the party-spirit of the faithful politician. George MacDonald More Quotes by George MacDonald More Quotes From George MacDonald Things come to the poor that can't get in at the door of the rich. Their money somehow blocks it up. It is a great privilege to be poor--one that no man covets, and brat a very few have sought to retain, but one that yet many have learned to prize. George MacDonald block doors men Common people, whether lords or shop-keepers, are slow to understand that possession, whether in the shape of birth or lands or money or intellect, is a small affair in the difference between men. George MacDonald differences land men Light-leaved acacias, by the door, George MacDonald light air doors The region of the senses is the unbelieving part of the human soul. George MacDonald humans soul belief There is no inborn longing that shall not be fulfilled. I think that is as certain as the forgiveness of sins. George MacDonald longing desire thinking It is a happy thing for us that this is really all we have to concern ourselves about--what to do next. No man can do the second thing. He can do the first. George MacDonald next men firsts What a man is lies as certainly upon his countenance as in his heart, though none of his acquaintances may be able to read it. The very intercourse with him may have rendered it more difficult. George MacDonald heart men lying Faith is obedience, not compliance. George MacDonald compliance obedience faith He who is faithful over a few things is a lord of cities. It does not matter whether you preach in Westminster Abbey or teach a ragged class, so you be faithful. The faithfulness is all. George MacDonald faithful cities class All haste implies weakness. George MacDonald haste weakness The ideal is the only absolute real; and it must become the real in the individual life as well, however impossible they may count it who never tried it. George MacDonald real impossible may No one is likely to remember what is entirely uninteresting to him. George MacDonald remember For the greatest fool and rascal in creation there is yet a worse condition; and that is, not to know it, but to think himself a respectable man. George MacDonald fool men thinking Now and then, when I look round on my books, they seem to waver as if a wind rippled their solid mass, and another world were about to break through. George MacDonald break-through wind book I am an optimistic fatalist. This world and all its beginnings will pass on into something better. George MacDonald optimistic this-world world Better to have the poet's heart than brain, George MacDonald feelings heart song Real good-breeding is independent of the forms and refinements of what has assumed to itself the name of society. George MacDonald independent real names I do not myself believe there is any misfortune. What men call such is merely the shadowside of a good. George MacDonald misfortunes men believe What distressed me most - more even than my own folly - was the perplexing question, How can beauty and ugliness dwell so near? George MacDonald ugliness folly my-own Were I asked, what is a fairytale? I should reply, Read Undine: that is a fairytale. George MacDonald fairytale should
