Doubt may be a poor encouragement to do anything, but it is a bad reason for doing nothing. George MacDonald More Quotes by George MacDonald More Quotes From George MacDonald 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 differenceslandmen Light-leaved acacias, by the door, George MacDonald lightairdoors The region of the senses is the unbelieving part of the human soul. George MacDonald humanssoulbelief There is no inborn longing that shall not be fulfilled. I think that is as certain as the forgiveness of sins. George MacDonald longingdesirethinking 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 nextmenfirsts 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 heartmenlying Faith is obedience, not compliance. George MacDonald complianceobediencefaith 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 faithfulcitiesclass All haste implies weakness. George MacDonald hasteweakness 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 realimpossiblemay 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 foolmenthinking 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-throughwindbook I am an optimistic fatalist. This world and all its beginnings will pass on into something better. George MacDonald optimisticthis-worldworld Better to have the poet's heart than brain, George MacDonald feelingsheartsong Real good-breeding is independent of the forms and refinements of what has assumed to itself the name of society. George MacDonald independentrealnames I do not myself believe there is any misfortune. What men call such is merely the shadowside of a good. George MacDonald misfortunesmenbelieve What distressed me most - more even than my own folly - was the perplexing question, How can beauty and ugliness dwell so near? George MacDonald uglinessfollymy-own Were I asked, what is a fairytale? I should reply, Read Undine: that is a fairytale. George MacDonald fairytaleshould There is no cheating in nature and the simple unsought feelings of the soul. There must be a truth involved in it, though we may but in part lay hold of the meaning. George MacDonald soulsimplecheating
