I have my doubts about all this real value in…
““I have my doubts about all this real value in mountaineering, in getting to the top of everything and overlooking everything. Satan was the most celebrated of Alpine guides, when he took Jesus to the top of an exceeding high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the earth. But the joy of Satan in standing on a peak is not a joy in largeness, but a joy in beholding smallness, in the fact that all men look like insects at his feet. It is from the valley that things look large; it is from the level that things look high; I am a child of the level and have no need of that celebrated Alpine guide. I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help; but I will not lift up my carcass to the hills, unless it is absolutely necessary. Everything is in an attitude of mind; and at this moment I am in a comfortable attitude. I will sit still and let the marvels and the adventures settle on me like flies. There are plenty of them, I assure you. The world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of wonder.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
True wonder comes from humility, not from seeking grand vistas.
In simple terms: Wonder arises from seeing smallness, not grandeur.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate humility to appreciate wonder.
Themes
humility
wonder
perspective
Mood
contemplative
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- nature walks
- meditation
- reading sacred texts
Key Concepts
spirituality
philosophy
mindset
Questions to Reflect On
- How does humility affect your goals?
- What small wonders can you notice today?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on smallness may overlook necessary ambition.