George MacDonald - Reflections
@gmd-reflections.bsky.social
How does the condition of mind affect our life's journey? - Engaging the help of #GeorgeMacdonald and others as a springboard for ideas and principles of living.
https://gmdreflections.substack.com
https://gmdreflections.substack.com
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George MacDonald, Scottish author from Huntly, Aberdeenshire (1824-1905), influenced many later writers, including Chesterton, Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.
Friend of Ruskin and Lewis Carroll.
Wrote fantasy and realistic fiction, including in Scots dialect, theological works and poetry.
Friend of Ruskin and Lewis Carroll.
Wrote fantasy and realistic fiction, including in Scots dialect, theological works and poetry.
"…the laird had got his Journal of George Fox, and was reading diligently: when nothing was to be done, the deeper mind of the laird grew immediately active."
George MacDonald
(From "Warlock o' Glenwarlock," CHAPTER XVI, THROUGH THE DAY)
George MacDonald
(From "Warlock o' Glenwarlock," CHAPTER XVI, THROUGH THE DAY)
November 10, 2025 at 7:03 AM
"…the laird had got his Journal of George Fox, and was reading diligently: when nothing was to be done, the deeper mind of the laird grew immediately active."
George MacDonald
(From "Warlock o' Glenwarlock," CHAPTER XVI, THROUGH THE DAY)
George MacDonald
(From "Warlock o' Glenwarlock," CHAPTER XVI, THROUGH THE DAY)
"We maun jist perk up a bit, an' be patient, that patience may hae her perfe't wark. I s' hae anither try—an' weel I may, for the licht o' my auld e'en is this day restored til me!"
George MacDonald
(From "Warlock o' Glenwarlock, CHAPTER XXXVIII, THE SHADOW OF DEATH)
George MacDonald
(From "Warlock o' Glenwarlock, CHAPTER XXXVIII, THE SHADOW OF DEATH)
November 9, 2025 at 5:12 PM
"We maun jist perk up a bit, an' be patient, that patience may hae her perfe't wark. I s' hae anither try—an' weel I may, for the licht o' my auld e'en is this day restored til me!"
George MacDonald
(From "Warlock o' Glenwarlock, CHAPTER XXXVIII, THE SHADOW OF DEATH)
George MacDonald
(From "Warlock o' Glenwarlock, CHAPTER XXXVIII, THE SHADOW OF DEATH)
"She had by nature such a well balanced mind, and had set herself so strenuously to do the right thing, that her cross seemed already her natural choice, as indeed it always is—of the deeper nature."
George MacDonald
(From "Warlock o' Glenwarlock, CHAPTER XXXIX, THE LABOURER)
George MacDonald
(From "Warlock o' Glenwarlock, CHAPTER XXXIX, THE LABOURER)
November 8, 2025 at 8:35 AM
"She had by nature such a well balanced mind, and had set herself so strenuously to do the right thing, that her cross seemed already her natural choice, as indeed it always is—of the deeper nature."
George MacDonald
(From "Warlock o' Glenwarlock, CHAPTER XXXIX, THE LABOURER)
George MacDonald
(From "Warlock o' Glenwarlock, CHAPTER XXXIX, THE LABOURER)
"there was the sun in the sky—not warm, but dazzling-bright and shining straight into her very being! while the air, instinct with life, was filling her lungs like water drunk by a thirsty soul…"
November 7, 2025 at 7:31 AM
"there was the sun in the sky—not warm, but dazzling-bright and shining straight into her very being! while the air, instinct with life, was filling her lungs like water drunk by a thirsty soul…"
"But there is a central repose beyond the motions of the world; and through the turmoil of London, Hugh was journeying towards that wide stillness—that silence of the soul, which is not desolate, but rich with unutterable harmonies."
George MacDonald
George MacDonald
November 6, 2025 at 8:12 AM
"But there is a central repose beyond the motions of the world; and through the turmoil of London, Hugh was journeying towards that wide stillness—that silence of the soul, which is not desolate, but rich with unutterable harmonies."
George MacDonald
George MacDonald
"I don't think a mere victory is worth the breath spent upon it… But we should all be glad to get or give more light upon any subject, if it be by losing ever so many arguments."
George MacDonald
(From "A Vicar's Daughter," CHAPTER XXIX. A STRANGE TEXT)
George MacDonald
(From "A Vicar's Daughter," CHAPTER XXIX. A STRANGE TEXT)
November 5, 2025 at 12:22 PM
"I don't think a mere victory is worth the breath spent upon it… But we should all be glad to get or give more light upon any subject, if it be by losing ever so many arguments."
George MacDonald
(From "A Vicar's Daughter," CHAPTER XXIX. A STRANGE TEXT)
George MacDonald
(From "A Vicar's Daughter," CHAPTER XXIX. A STRANGE TEXT)
"…surely it must be worth our while to bear discomfort in order to grow of some good!"
George MacDonald
(From "A Vicar's Daughter," CHAPTER XXIX. A STRANGE TEXT)
George MacDonald
(From "A Vicar's Daughter," CHAPTER XXIX. A STRANGE TEXT)
November 4, 2025 at 9:03 AM
"…surely it must be worth our while to bear discomfort in order to grow of some good!"
George MacDonald
(From "A Vicar's Daughter," CHAPTER XXIX. A STRANGE TEXT)
George MacDonald
(From "A Vicar's Daughter," CHAPTER XXIX. A STRANGE TEXT)
"The man who for consciousness of well-being depends upon anything but life, the life essential, is a slave."
George MacDonald
(From "Unspoken Sermons," Series II, THE HARDNESS OF THE WAY)
George MacDonald
(From "Unspoken Sermons," Series II, THE HARDNESS OF THE WAY)
November 3, 2025 at 7:23 AM
"The man who for consciousness of well-being depends upon anything but life, the life essential, is a slave."
George MacDonald
(From "Unspoken Sermons," Series II, THE HARDNESS OF THE WAY)
George MacDonald
(From "Unspoken Sermons," Series II, THE HARDNESS OF THE WAY)
"…some evil it does portend, although a long time may elapse before it shows itself; and I have a hope it may mean some one else than you."
"Do not wish that," I replied. "I know no one better able to bear it than I am; and I hope, whatever it may be, that I only shall have to meet it."
"Do not wish that," I replied. "I know no one better able to bear it than I am; and I hope, whatever it may be, that I only shall have to meet it."
November 2, 2025 at 8:44 AM
"…some evil it does portend, although a long time may elapse before it shows itself; and I have a hope it may mean some one else than you."
"Do not wish that," I replied. "I know no one better able to bear it than I am; and I hope, whatever it may be, that I only shall have to meet it."
"Do not wish that," I replied. "I know no one better able to bear it than I am; and I hope, whatever it may be, that I only shall have to meet it."
"…no one could foretell what would come to pass, or say what deliverance might not be in store for them! The clouds must break somehow, and then there was the sun! …"
November 1, 2025 at 8:02 AM
"…no one could foretell what would come to pass, or say what deliverance might not be in store for them! The clouds must break somehow, and then there was the sun! …"
"…their present reach, will fancy they see a meaning in it, or invent one, or even—which is far worse—pronounce it nonsense; and, indeed, show themselves capable of any device for getting out of the difficulty, except seeing and confessing to themselves that they are not able to understand it."
October 31, 2025 at 7:07 AM
"…their present reach, will fancy they see a meaning in it, or invent one, or even—which is far worse—pronounce it nonsense; and, indeed, show themselves capable of any device for getting out of the difficulty, except seeing and confessing to themselves that they are not able to understand it."
"…we live in a universe of marvels of which we know only the outsides,—and which we turn into the incredible by taking the mere outsides for all, even while we know the roots of the seen remain unseen…"
George MacDonald
(From "Warlock o' Glenwarlock," CHAPTER VIII, HOME)
George MacDonald
(From "Warlock o' Glenwarlock," CHAPTER VIII, HOME)
October 30, 2025 at 5:49 AM
"…we live in a universe of marvels of which we know only the outsides,—and which we turn into the incredible by taking the mere outsides for all, even while we know the roots of the seen remain unseen…"
George MacDonald
(From "Warlock o' Glenwarlock," CHAPTER VIII, HOME)
George MacDonald
(From "Warlock o' Glenwarlock," CHAPTER VIII, HOME)
"You believe there must be a best way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,—hadn't even found out the way…"
October 29, 2025 at 7:49 AM
"You believe there must be a best way; but you might spend your life in trying to satisfy yourself which was that best way, and, when you came to the close of it, find you had done nothing,—hadn't even found out the way…"
"…the same recipe Goethe gave for the enjoyment of life, applies equally to all work: “Do the thing that lies next you.” That is all our business. Hurried results are worse than none. We must force nothing, but be partakers of the divine patience…"
George MacDonald
George MacDonald
October 28, 2025 at 10:59 AM
"…the same recipe Goethe gave for the enjoyment of life, applies equally to all work: “Do the thing that lies next you.” That is all our business. Hurried results are worse than none. We must force nothing, but be partakers of the divine patience…"
George MacDonald
George MacDonald
"I never find I lose by giving, even in argument," said the curate.
George MacDonald
(From "Paul Faber, Surgeon," CHAPTER XXIV, JULIET'S CHAMBER)
George MacDonald
(From "Paul Faber, Surgeon," CHAPTER XXIV, JULIET'S CHAMBER)
October 26, 2025 at 6:32 PM
"I never find I lose by giving, even in argument," said the curate.
George MacDonald
(From "Paul Faber, Surgeon," CHAPTER XXIV, JULIET'S CHAMBER)
George MacDonald
(From "Paul Faber, Surgeon," CHAPTER XXIV, JULIET'S CHAMBER)
"…You remember those odd but no less devout lines of George Herbert? Just after he says, so beautifully, ‘And now with darkness closest weary eyes,’ he adds:
" 'Thus in thy ebony box
Thou dost enclose us, till the day
Put our amendment in our way,
And give new wheels to our disordered clocks.' ”
" 'Thus in thy ebony box
Thou dost enclose us, till the day
Put our amendment in our way,
And give new wheels to our disordered clocks.' ”
October 25, 2025 at 9:10 PM
"…You remember those odd but no less devout lines of George Herbert? Just after he says, so beautifully, ‘And now with darkness closest weary eyes,’ he adds:
" 'Thus in thy ebony box
Thou dost enclose us, till the day
Put our amendment in our way,
And give new wheels to our disordered clocks.' ”
" 'Thus in thy ebony box
Thou dost enclose us, till the day
Put our amendment in our way,
And give new wheels to our disordered clocks.' ”
"…before he reached his destination, what people call a misfortune befell him. I do not myself believe there is any misfortune; what men call such is merely the shadow-side of a good."
George MacDonald
("Warlock o' Glenwarlock," CHAPTER XXIV, A TUTORSHIP)
George MacDonald
("Warlock o' Glenwarlock," CHAPTER XXIV, A TUTORSHIP)
October 24, 2025 at 8:14 AM
"…before he reached his destination, what people call a misfortune befell him. I do not myself believe there is any misfortune; what men call such is merely the shadow-side of a good."
George MacDonald
("Warlock o' Glenwarlock," CHAPTER XXIV, A TUTORSHIP)
George MacDonald
("Warlock o' Glenwarlock," CHAPTER XXIV, A TUTORSHIP)
"Nothing makes a man strong like a call upon him for help—a fact which points at a unity more delicate and close and profound than heart has yet perceived."
George MacDonald
(From "Paul Faber, Surgeon," CHAPTER XXXVI, TWO MORE MINDS)
George MacDonald
(From "Paul Faber, Surgeon," CHAPTER XXXVI, TWO MORE MINDS)
October 23, 2025 at 7:43 AM
"Nothing makes a man strong like a call upon him for help—a fact which points at a unity more delicate and close and profound than heart has yet perceived."
George MacDonald
(From "Paul Faber, Surgeon," CHAPTER XXXVI, TWO MORE MINDS)
George MacDonald
(From "Paul Faber, Surgeon," CHAPTER XXXVI, TWO MORE MINDS)
"He was nevertheless a fool, also, only of another and deeper sort. It needs brains to be a real fool!"
George MacDonald
(From "Weighed and Wanting," CHAPTER XXVI, WAITING A PURPOSE)
George MacDonald
(From "Weighed and Wanting," CHAPTER XXVI, WAITING A PURPOSE)
October 22, 2025 at 11:35 AM
"He was nevertheless a fool, also, only of another and deeper sort. It needs brains to be a real fool!"
George MacDonald
(From "Weighed and Wanting," CHAPTER XXVI, WAITING A PURPOSE)
George MacDonald
(From "Weighed and Wanting," CHAPTER XXVI, WAITING A PURPOSE)
"But how can we love a man or a woman who is cruel and unjust to us?—who sears with contempt, or cuts off with wrong every tendril we would put forth to embrace? …who can even sneer, the most inhuman of human faults?…
October 22, 2025 at 7:35 AM
"But how can we love a man or a woman who is cruel and unjust to us?—who sears with contempt, or cuts off with wrong every tendril we would put forth to embrace? …who can even sneer, the most inhuman of human faults?…
"…no man who is conceited can be convinced of the fact. The moment a man is convinced of his folly, he ceases to be a fool. The moment a man is convinced of his conceit, he ceases to be conceited."
George MacDonald
(From "The Seaboard Parish," VOL. III, CHAPTER I, A WALK WITH MY WIFE)
George MacDonald
(From "The Seaboard Parish," VOL. III, CHAPTER I, A WALK WITH MY WIFE)
October 21, 2025 at 7:33 AM
"…no man who is conceited can be convinced of the fact. The moment a man is convinced of his folly, he ceases to be a fool. The moment a man is convinced of his conceit, he ceases to be conceited."
George MacDonald
(From "The Seaboard Parish," VOL. III, CHAPTER I, A WALK WITH MY WIFE)
George MacDonald
(From "The Seaboard Parish," VOL. III, CHAPTER I, A WALK WITH MY WIFE)
"Dinna ye ken ’at the speerit o’ man’s the can’le o’ the Lord?”
“But sae mony for a’ that follows but their ain fancies!—That ye maun alloo, laird; an’ what comes o’ yer can’le than?”
"That's sic as never luik whaur the licht fa's, but aye some ither gait, for they carena to walk by the same…"
“But sae mony for a’ that follows but their ain fancies!—That ye maun alloo, laird; an’ what comes o’ yer can’le than?”
"That's sic as never luik whaur the licht fa's, but aye some ither gait, for they carena to walk by the same…"
October 20, 2025 at 6:03 AM
"Dinna ye ken ’at the speerit o’ man’s the can’le o’ the Lord?”
“But sae mony for a’ that follows but their ain fancies!—That ye maun alloo, laird; an’ what comes o’ yer can’le than?”
"That's sic as never luik whaur the licht fa's, but aye some ither gait, for they carena to walk by the same…"
“But sae mony for a’ that follows but their ain fancies!—That ye maun alloo, laird; an’ what comes o’ yer can’le than?”
"That's sic as never luik whaur the licht fa's, but aye some ither gait, for they carena to walk by the same…"
"Remember, nothing drops out; everything hid shall be revealed. But of all things, if ever you should fail or fall, don't lie still because you are down: get up again—for God's sake, for your mother's sake, for my sake—get up and try again."
George MacDonald
George MacDonald
October 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM
"Remember, nothing drops out; everything hid shall be revealed. But of all things, if ever you should fail or fall, don't lie still because you are down: get up again—for God's sake, for your mother's sake, for my sake—get up and try again."
George MacDonald
George MacDonald
"People talk about loving too much; for my part, I think all the mischief comes of loving too little"
George MacDonald
(From "Guild Court," CHAPTER XXI - THE TEMPTER)
George MacDonald
(From "Guild Court," CHAPTER XXI - THE TEMPTER)
October 19, 2025 at 8:44 AM
"People talk about loving too much; for my part, I think all the mischief comes of loving too little"
George MacDonald
(From "Guild Court," CHAPTER XXI - THE TEMPTER)
George MacDonald
(From "Guild Court," CHAPTER XXI - THE TEMPTER)
"…I record the conviction, that, in one way or other, special individual help is given to every creature to endure to the end…"
October 18, 2025 at 9:11 AM
"…I record the conviction, that, in one way or other, special individual help is given to every creature to endure to the end…"