It was all too easy to make things up, it was like skating on thin ice, it was like doing dainty pirouettes on a brittle crust over water thousands of fathoms deep. Jostein Gaarder More Quotes by Jostein Gaarder More Quotes From Jostein Gaarder (As human beings) We see everything everything in a glass, darkly. Sometimes we can peer through the glass and catch a glimpse of what is on the other side. If we were to polish the glass clean, we'd see much more. But then we would no longer see ourselves. Jostein Gaarder peers glimpse glasses We are the living planet! Jostein Gaarder planets life As long as we are children, we have the ability to experience things around us--but then we grow used to the world. To grow up is to get drunk on sensory experience. Jostein Gaarder growing-up long children I think about my editor when I write. She's a good friend, too. Jostein Gaarder good-friend writing thinking Moreover, nature's blocks had to be eternal-because nothing can come from nothing. Jostein Gaarder eternal block That fact that Athens could condemn its noblest citizen to death did more than make a profound impression on him. It was to shape the course of his entire philosophic endeavor. Jostein Gaarder citizens shapes profound What Plato was really asking was perhaps why a horse was a horse, and not, for example, a cross between a horse and a pig. Jostein Gaarder horse plato pigs When we sense something, it is due to the movement of atoms in space. When I see the moon it is because "moon atoms" penetrate my eye. Jostein Gaarder space eye moon When we talked about Socrates, we saw how dangerous it could be to appeal to people's reason. With Jesus we see how dangerous it can be to demand unconditional forgiveness. Even in the world of today, we can see how mighty powers can come apart at the seams when confronted with simple demands for peace, love, food for the poor, and amnesty for the enemies of the state. Jostein Gaarder simple people jesus I'm not just some butterfly for you to catch. Jostein Gaarder butterfly Over the entrance to the temple at Delphi was a famous inscription: KNOW THYSELF! It reminded visitors that man must never believe himself to be more than mortal - and that no man can escape his destiny. Jostein Gaarder destiny men believe Let me put it more precisely: The ability to give birth is a natural characteristic. In the same way, everybody can grasp philosophical truths if they just use their innate reason. Jostein Gaarder philosophical use giving I wrote Sophies World in three months, but I was only writing and sleeping. I work for 14 hours a day when Im working on a book. Jostein Gaarder sleep writing book To wonder about life is not something we learn; it is something we forget. Jostein Gaarder life-is wonder forget Where did the world come from? The question has an answer, even though I cannot get to it. It is a good question. It is like a crime that has not been solved. There is an answer, even if police do not know it. Jostein Gaarder good-questions police answers There is no order of things except in the human mind. Jostein Gaarder humans mind order I want to understand more about the world while Im still here. Jostein Gaarder stills want world For nature is good, an man is 'by nature' good; it is civilization which ruins him Jostein Gaarder ruins men civilization If there is a god, he is not only a wizard at leaving clues behind. More than anything, he's a master of concealment. And the world is not something that gives itself away. The heavens still keep their secrets. There is little gossip amongst the stars. But no one has forgotten the Big Bang yet. Since then, silence has reigned supreme, and every thing there is moving away. One can still come across a moon. Or a comet. Just don't expect friendly greetings. No visiting cards are printed in space. Jostein Gaarder stars moon moving The universe is a great mystery. Jostein Gaarder mystery universe
