Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by George MacDonald (Scottish Poet, Novelist)

George MacDonald (1824–1905) was a Scottish novelist, lecturer, and poet. Often regarded as the founding father of modern fantasy writing, he was the most highly regarded of children’s writers of the nineteenth century. MacDonald also wrote Christian allegories of man’s pilgrimage back to God.

Born in the farming country of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, MacDonald was educated at the University of Aberdeen and Highbury College, London. He became a Congregational minister but left the ministry in 1853 to earmark himself to literature.

MacDonald incorporated his affection for Northeast Scotland into his writings, especially those for children. From the recollections of his childhood, he developed a distinct meaning of “childlikeness.” His ability to connect the worlds of the natural and the supernatural (which, he claimed, happens most natural in the mind of a child or “childlike” reader) influenced Lewis Carroll, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Maurice Sendak.

MacDonald’s notable works include the novels David Elginbrod (1863,) Alec Forbes of Howglen (1865,) Malcolm (1875,) and Donal Grant (3 vols., 1883.) At the Back of the North Wind (1871) and The Princess and the Goblin (1872) are deeply symbolic, with elements of Christian mysticism.

MacDonald’s books reveal his firm religious faith, moral enthusiasm, and Christian optimism. He was also the author of several theological works, including Unspoken Sermons (1867, 1885, and 1889) and The Miracles of Our Lord (1886.) His adult works have enjoyed a revival lately, especially among evangelical Christians.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by George MacDonald

We die daily. Happy those who daily come to life as well.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Time Management, Value of a Day, Carpe-diem

One thing is clear to me, that no indulgence of passion destroys the spiritual nature so much as respectable selfishness.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Selfishness

I could never draw the line between meanness and dishonesty.—What is mean, so far as I can see, slides by indistinguishable gradations into what is dishonest.
—George MacDonald

You can’t live on amusement. It is the froth on water—an inch deep and then the mud.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Pleasure

It is by loving and by being loved that one can come nearest to the soul of another.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Love

Age is not all decay; it is the ripening, the swelling, of the fresh life within, that withers and bursts the husk.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Aging, Age

Alas! how easily things go wrong; a sigh too much or a kiss too long, and there follows a mist and a weeping rain, and life is never the same again.
—George MacDonald

Friends, if we be honest with ourselves, we shall be honest with each other.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Candor, Sincerity

Beauty and sadness always go together.
Nature thought beauty too rich to go forth
Upon the earth without a meet alloy.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Beauty

There is no strength in unbelief. Even the unbelief of what is false is no source of might. It is the truth shining from behind that gives the strength to disbelieve.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Strength

Emulation is the devil-shadow of aspiration.—To excite it is worthy only of the commonplace vulgar schoolmaster, whose ambition is to show what fine scholars he can turn out, that he may get the more pupils.
—George MacDonald

As you grow ready for it, somewhere or other, you will find what is needful for you in a book.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Reading

Forgiveness is the giving, and so the receiving, of life.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Forgiveness

A perfect faith would lift us absolutely above fear.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Anxiety, Faith, Fear

Fear is faithlessness.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Fear, Anxiety

Ambition is but the evil shadow of aspiration.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Ambition, Goals

One of the good things that come of a true marriage is, that there is one face on which changes come without your seeing them; or rather there is one face which you can still see the same, through all the shadows which years have gathered upon it.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Marriage

The seed dies into a new life, and so does man.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Immortality

When a man argues for victory and not for truth, he is sure of just one ally, that is the devil.—Not the defeat of the intellect, but the acceptance of the heart is the only true object in fighting with the sword of the spirit.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Argument

God chooses that men should be tried, but let a man beware of tempting his neighbor. God knows how and how much, and where and when. Man is his brother’s keeper, and must keep him according to his knowledge.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Temptation

Timely service, like timely gifts, is doubled in value.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Value of Time, Time Management

The best preparation for the future is the present well seen to, the last duty well done.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Preparation, Duty, Planning

Not only then has each man his individual relation to God, but each man has his peculiar relation to God.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Divinity, Faith, God

God never gave a man a thing to do, concerning which it were irreverent to ponder how the Son of God would have done it.
—George MacDonald

The hell that a lie would keep a man from, is doubtless the very best place for him to go.
—George MacDonald

I find the doing of the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about His plans.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Obedience, God, Duty

If, instead of a gem or even a flower, we could cast the gift of a lovely thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Thought, Gifts, Friendship

They are not the best students who are most dependent on books. What can be got out of them is at best only material; a man must build his house for himself.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Study

If I can put one touch of a rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Cheerfulness, Character, Encouragement, Truth, Honesty

The principal part of faith is patience.
—George MacDonald
Topics: Faith, Part of The Whole, Belief, Patience

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