Christmas is for children. But it is for grownups too. Even if it is a headache, a chore, and nightmare, it is a period of necessary defrosting of chill and hide-bound hearts.
—Lenora Mattingly Weber (1895–1971) American Juvenile Novelist
And when we give each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon and the stars, and the earth with its forests and mountains and oceans–and all that lives and move upon them. He has given us all green things and everything that blossoms and bears fruit and all that we quarrel about and all that we have misused–and to save us from our foolishness, from all our sins, He came down to earth and gave us Himself.
—Sigrid Undset (1882–1949) Norwegian Novelist
Christmas day is a day of joy and charity. May God make you very rich in both.
—Phillips Brooks (1835–93) American Episcopal Clergyman, Author
Christmas is not in tinsel and lights and outward show.
The secret lies in an inner glow.
It’s lighting a fire inside the heart.
Good will and joy a vital part.
It’s higher thought and a greater plan.
It’s glorious dream in the soul of man.
—Wilferd Arlan Peterson (1900–95) American Author
Christmas renews our youth by stirring our wonder. The capacity for wonder has been called our most pregnant human faculty, for in it are born our art, our science, our religion.
—Ralph Washington Sockman (1889–1970) American Methodist Clergyman
Christmas is the season of joy, of holiday greetings exchanged, of gift-giving, and of families united.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
So stick up ivy and the bays, and then restore the heathen ways, green will remind you of the Spring, though this great day denies the thing, and mortifies the earth, and all, but your wild revels, and loose hall.
—Henry Vaughan (1621–95) Anglo-Welsh Metaphysical Poet
This is the month, and this the happy morn, wherein the Son of heaven’s eternal King, of wedded Maid and Virgin Mother born, our great redemption from above did bring.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
It was always said of him [Scrooge] that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
The right way to requite evil, according to Jesus, is not to resist it. This saying of Christ removes the Church from the sphere of politics and law.
—Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–45) German Lutheran Pastor, Theologian
Christmas is here: Winds whistle shrill, Icy and chill, Little care we; Little we fear Weather without, Sheltered about The Mahogany Tree.
—William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–63) English Novelist
At this festive season of the year, Mr Scrooge, said the gentleman, taking up a pen, “it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. … We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices.”
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a family all wrapped up in each other.
—Burton Hillis (William E. Vaughan) (1915–77) American Columnist, Author
Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles.
—Indian Proverb
“But I am sure that I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round…as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely.”
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
If when we judged others, our real motive was to destroy evil, we should look for evil where it is certain to be found, and that is in our own hearts. But if we are on the look-out for evil in others, our real motive is obviously to justify ourselves.
—Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–45) German Lutheran Pastor, Theologian
May we not “spend” Christmas or “observe” Christmas, but rather “keep” it.
—Peter Marshall (1902–49) Scottish-American Preacher, 57th US Senate Chaplain
Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
I do come home at Christmas. We all do, or we all should. We all come home, or ought to come home, for a short holiday – the longer, the better – from the great boarding school where we are forever working at our arithmetical slates, to take, and give a rest.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
A woman spent all Christmas Day in a telephone box without ringing anyone. If someone comes to phone, she leaves the box, then resumes her place afterwards. No one calls her either, but from a window in the street, someone watched her all day, no doubt since they had nothing better to do. The Christmas syndrome.
—Jean Baudrillard (1929–2007) French Sociologist, Philosopher
My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?
—Bob Hope (1903–2003) British-born American Comedian
Christmas is not a date. It is a state of mind.
—Mary Ellen Chase (1887–1973) American Educator, Teacher, Scholar, Author
Then Bob proposed: “A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us!” Which all his family re-echoed. “God bless us every one!” said Tiny Tim, the last of all.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
Once upon a time—of all the good days in the year, on Christmas Eve—old Scrooge sat busy in his counting-house.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
However much of Christmas giving, the real Christmas must be first in the heart.
—Unknown
When we recall the past, we usually find that it is the simplest things—not the great occasions—that in retrospect give off the greatest glow of happiness.
—Bob Hope (1903–2003) British-born American Comedian
We should make the Yuletide season an occasion not merely for the giving of material things but an occasion for the giving of that which counts infinitely more … the giving of self.
—James Cash Penney (1875–1971) American Entrepreneur
When we judge other people we confront them in a spirit of detachment, observing and reflecting as it were from the outside. But love has neither time nor opportunity for this. If we love, we can never observe the other person with detachment, for he is always and at every moment a living claim to our love and service.
—Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–45) German Lutheran Pastor, Theologian
Heap on the wood!-the wind is chill; But let it whistle as it will, We’ll keep our Christmas merry still.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
Gloria, Gloria! they cry, for their song embraces all that the Lord has begun this day: Glory to God in the highest of heavens! And peace to the people with whom he is pleased! And who are these people? With whom does the good Lord choose to take his pleasure? The shepherds. The plain and nameless—whose every name the Lord knows well. You. And me.
—Walter Wangerin Jr. (1944–2021) American Author, Lutheran Minister
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