The hardest thing usually to leave behind, as was the case now, can loosely be called the conscience. Norman Maclean More Quotes by Norman Maclean More Quotes From Norman Maclean So it is that we can seldom help anybody. Either we don't know what part to give or maybe we don't like to give any part of ourselves. Then, more often than not, the part that is needed is not wanted. And even more often, we do not have the part that is needed. Norman Maclean wantedhelpinggiving When exhausted and feeling sorry for yourself, at least change your socks. Norman Maclean exhaustedsorryfeelings Now nearly all those I loved and did not understand when I was young are dead, but I still reach out to them. Norman Maclean reach-outyoungdeath Probably most catastrophes end this way without an ending, the dead not even knowing how they died...,those who loved them forever questioning "this unnecessary death," and the rest of us tiring of this inconsolable catastrophe and turning to the next one. Norman Maclean knowingforeverway As I get considerably beyond the biblical allotment of three score years and ten, I feel with increasing intensity that I can express my gratitude for still being around on the oxygen-side of the earth's crust only by not standing pat on what I have hitherto known and loved. While oxygen lasts, there are still new things to love, especially if compassion is a form of love. Norman Maclean gratitudebiblicalcompassion It is those we live with and love and should know who elude us. Norman Maclean elude-youelude-usfriendship If our father had had his way, nobody who did not know how to fish would be allowed to disgrace a fish by catching him. Norman Maclean sealakesfather As for my father, I never knew whether he believed God was a mathematician but he certainly believed God could count and that only by picking up God's rhythms were we able to regain power and beauty. Unlike many Presbyterians, he often used the word "beautiful. Norman Maclean ablebeautifulfather It is very important to a lot of people to make unmistakably clear to themselves and to the universe that they love the universe but are not intimidated by it and will not be shaken by it, no matter what it has in store. Moreover, they demand something from themselves early in life that can be taken ever after as a demonstration of this abiding feeling. Norman Maclean takenfeelingspeople ...life every now and then becomes literature...as if life had been made and not happened. Norman Maclean now-and-thenliteraturemade In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing. Norman Maclean our-familylinesfishing I knew that, when needed, mountains would move for me. Norman Maclean mountainneededmoving Help is giving part of yourself to somebody who comes to accept it willingly and needs it badly. Norman Maclean helpinggivingneeds One of life's quiet excitements is to stand somewhat apart from yourself and watch yourself softly becoming the author of something beautiful even if it is only a floating ash. Norman Maclean floatingbeautifulwatches I am haunted by waters. Norman Maclean environmentalriverswater Unless we are willing to escape into sentimentality or fantasy, often the best we can do with catastrophes, even our own, is to find out exactly what happened and restore some of the missing parts. Norman Maclean willingfantasymissing We sat on the bank and the river went by. As always, it was making sounds to itself, and now it made sounds to us. It would be hard to find three men sitting side by side who knew better what a river was saying. Norman Maclean soundriversmen How can a question be answered that asks a lifetime of questions. Norman Maclean askslifetime When I was young, a teacher had forbidden me to say "more perfect" because she said if a thing is perfect it can't be more so. But by now I had seen enough of life to have regained my confidence in it. Norman Maclean enoughperfectteacher A mystery of the universe is how it has managed to survive with so much volunteer help. Norman Maclean volunteermysteryhelping
