George Macdonald Quotes

       George Macdonald
       1824-1905
      
       George MacDonald was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister. Though no longer well known, his works have inspired admiration in such notables as W. H. Auden, J. R. R. Tolkien, G. K. Chesterton and C. S. Lewis. Lewis wrote that he regarded MacDonald as his "master." MacDonald also served as a mentor to Lewis Carroll; it was MacDonald's advice, and the enthusiastic reception of Alice in Wonderland by MacDonald's three young daughters, that convinced Carroll to submit Alice for publication.
      
       MacDonald grew up influenced by his Congregational Church, with an atmosphere of Calvinism. But MacDonald never felt comfortable with some aspects of Calvinist doctrine; indeed, legend has it that when the doctrine of predestination was first explained to him, he burst into tears. Later novels, such as Robert Falconer and Lilith, show a distaste for the idea that God's electing love is limited to some and denied to others. Especially in his Unspoken Sermons he shows a highly developed theology.

It is our best work that God wants, not the dregs of our exhaustion. I think he must prefer quality to quantity.     Topics: Achievement, Work There are thousands willing to do great things for one willing to do a small thing.     Topics: Achievement Progress is the real cure for an over estimate of ourselves.     Topics: Achievement Afflictions are but the shadows of God's wings.     Topics: Affliction Where there is no choice, we do well to make no difficulty.     Topics: Anxiety, Choices No one is likely to remember what is entirely uninteresting to him.     Topics: Apathy All growth that is not toward God, is growing to decay.     Topics: Apathy, Growth Attitudes are more important than facts.     Topics: Attitude, Truth A man's real belief is that which he lives by. What a man believes is the thing he does, not the thing he thinks.     Topics: Believing As you grow ready for it, somewhere or other, you will find what is needful for you in a book.     Topics: Books 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.     Topics: Books, Education Friends, if we be honest with ourselves, we shall be honest with each other.     Topics: Character