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.
"Perhaps the best thing for the princess would have been falling in love. But how a princess who had no gravity at all, could fall into anything, is a difficulty—perhaps THE difficulty…"
November 25, 2025 at 1:48 PM
"Perhaps the best thing for the princess would have been falling in love. But how a princess who had no gravity at all, could fall into anything, is a difficulty—perhaps THE difficulty…"
"They did not reckon what strength the additional motive, what heart the new love, what uplifting the hope of help from on high, kindled by their righteous deed, might give them—..."
November 24, 2025 at 7:45 AM
"They did not reckon what strength the additional motive, what heart the new love, what uplifting the hope of help from on high, kindled by their righteous deed, might give them—..."
"A gentle wind, laden with pine odours from the sun-heated trees behind him, flapped its light wing in his face: the humanity of the world smote his heart; the great sky towered up over him, and its divinity entered his soul..."
November 23, 2025 at 7:51 AM
"A gentle wind, laden with pine odours from the sun-heated trees behind him, flapped its light wing in his face: the humanity of the world smote his heart; the great sky towered up over him, and its divinity entered his soul..."
“Strange to think…that the sun himself there is only a great fire, and knows nothing about it! There must be a sun to that sun, or the whole thing is a vain show. There must be one to whom each is itself, yet the all makes a whole—one who is at once both centre and circumference to all.”
November 20, 2025 at 12:48 PM
“Strange to think…that the sun himself there is only a great fire, and knows nothing about it! There must be a sun to that sun, or the whole thing is a vain show. There must be one to whom each is itself, yet the all makes a whole—one who is at once both centre and circumference to all.”
"…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)
November 19, 2025 at 7:47 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)
"…as she drew near the rose-tree, her gaze became more and more fixed upon it; when at length she stood before it, and beheld it in all its glory, she burst into a very passion of weeping…."
November 18, 2025 at 7:08 AM
"…as she drew near the rose-tree, her gaze became more and more fixed upon it; when at length she stood before it, and beheld it in all its glory, she burst into a very passion of weeping…."
"All things belong to every man who yields his selfishness, which is his one impoverishment, and draws near to his wealth, which is humanity—not humanity in the abstract, but the humanity of friends and neighbours and all men…"
November 15, 2025 at 8:05 PM
"All things belong to every man who yields his selfishness, which is his one impoverishment, and draws near to his wealth, which is humanity—not humanity in the abstract, but the humanity of friends and neighbours and all men…"
"…his nature had been unconsciously striving to escape—struggling to get from below ground into the sunlit air—sighing after a freedom he could not have defined, the freedom that comes, not of independence, but of love—not of lawlessness, but of the perfection of law."
George MacDonald
George MacDonald
November 14, 2025 at 6:53 AM
"…his nature had been unconsciously striving to escape—struggling to get from below ground into the sunlit air—sighing after a freedom he could not have defined, the freedom that comes, not of independence, but of love—not of lawlessness, but of the perfection of law."
George MacDonald
George MacDonald
"…his was a nature which, foiled in one direction, must, absolutely helpless against its own vitality, straightway send out its searching roots in another. Of all forces, that of growth is the one irresistible, for it is the creating power of God, the law of life and of being."
George MacDonald
George MacDonald
November 13, 2025 at 8:12 AM
"…his was a nature which, foiled in one direction, must, absolutely helpless against its own vitality, straightway send out its searching roots in another. Of all forces, that of growth is the one irresistible, for it is the creating power of God, the law of life and of being."
George MacDonald
George MacDonald
"…his was a nature which, foiled in one direction, must, absolutely helpless against its own vitality, straightway send out its searching roots in another. Of all forces, that of growth is the one irresistible, for it is the creating power of God, the law of life and of being."
George MacDonald
George MacDonald
November 12, 2025 at 7:47 AM
"…his was a nature which, foiled in one direction, must, absolutely helpless against its own vitality, straightway send out its searching roots in another. Of all forces, that of growth is the one irresistible, for it is the creating power of God, the law of life and of being."
George MacDonald
George MacDonald
“From the God of man’s painting, we turn to the man of God‘s being, and he leads us to the true God, the radiation of whose glory we first see in him."
George MacDonald
(From "David Elginbrod," Book III, CHAPTER XI, QUESTIONS AND DREAMS)
George MacDonald
(From "David Elginbrod," Book III, CHAPTER XI, QUESTIONS AND DREAMS)
November 11, 2025 at 6:06 AM
“From the God of man’s painting, we turn to the man of God‘s being, and he leads us to the true God, the radiation of whose glory we first see in him."
George MacDonald
(From "David Elginbrod," Book III, CHAPTER XI, QUESTIONS AND DREAMS)
George MacDonald
(From "David Elginbrod," Book III, CHAPTER XI, QUESTIONS AND DREAMS)
"…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