--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The world is wider in all directions…" description: "\"The world is wider in all directions, more dangerous and bitter, more extravagant and bright. We are making hay when we should be making whoopee; we ar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/annie-dillard-509_bitter_the-world-is-wider-in-all-directions-mor_2600588.jpg" --- # The world is wider in all directions, more dangerous and… ![“The world is wider in all directions, more dangerous and bitter, more extravagant and bright. We are making hay when we should be making whoopee; we are raising tomatoes when we should be raising Cain and Lazarus.” quote by Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/annie-dillard-509_bitter_the-world-is-wider-in-all-directions-mor_2600588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/annie-dillard-509_bitter_the-world-is-wider-in-all-directions-mor_2600588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d3/annie-dillard-509_bitter_the-world-is-wider-in-all-directions-mor_2600588.jpg) > “The world is wider in all directions, more dangerous and bitter, more extravagant and bright. We are making hay when we should be making whoopee; we are raising tomatoes when we should be raising Cain and Lazarus.” [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dillard juxtaposes the richness of the world with absurd, misplaced priorities, highlighting human folly in misdirected effort. **In simple terms:** The world is beautiful but we often waste effort on wrong things. Key Takeaway Focus on meaningful pursuits, not trivial distractions. Themes beauty misdirection human folly Mood reflective critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - environmental appreciation - ethical decision making - personal priorities Key Concepts absurdity value judgment existential reflection Questions to Reflect On - What are the "tomatoes" you chase? - How can we realign effort with true values? A Different Perspective Our choices often ignore deeper purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cain/) [Lazarus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lazarus/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Greater technological connectivity makes the world wider, and the walls of isolation - thinner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj/greater-technological-connectivity-makes-the-world-wider-and-the/) [Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj/) > [The world becomes a wider place, with but a little learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-kearsley/the-world-becomes-a-wider-place-with-but-a-little-learning/) [Susanna Kearsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-kearsley/) > [Look to your consciences and remember that the theatre of the world is wider than the realm of England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-queen-of-scots/look-to-your-consciences-and-remember-that-the-theatre-of-the-world/) [Mary, Queen of Scots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-queen-of-scots/) > [Oh, father's gone to market-town, he was up before the day, And Jamie's after robins, and the man is making hay, And whistling down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-watson-gilder/oh-father-s-gone-to-market-town-he-was-up-before-the-day-and-jamie-s/) [Richard Watson Gilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-watson-gilder/) > [“There is always the temptation in life to diddle around making itsy-bitsy friends and meals and journeys for years on end. It is all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-sjogren/there-is-always-the-temptation-in-life-to-diddle-around-making-itsy/) Steve Sjogren > [There is always the temptation in life to diddle around making itsy-bitsy friends and meals and journeys for years on end. It is all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/there-is-always-the-temptation-in-life-to-diddle-around-making-itsy-2/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“The handcar was slowing down. The others began to close in ― the lame, the halt, the blind. 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Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-charles/) > [In 1937, I began, like Lazarus, the impossible return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whittaker-chambers/in-1937-i-began-like-lazarus-the-impossible-return/) [Whittaker Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whittaker-chambers/) > [“... What the Bible does not mention, but what must be true is that, years later, Lazarus still died. The people Jesus healed were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-j-davis/what-the-bible-does-not-mention-but-what-must-be-true-is-that-years/) [Katie J. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-j-davis/) > [Those old hypocrites. They talk about killing witches but the Good Book’s full of magic. Turning the Nile to blood and parting the Red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/those-old-hypocrites-they-talk-about-killing-witches-but-the-good/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) ## More by Annie Dillard > [Like everyone in his right mind, I feared Santa Claus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/like-everyone-in-his-right-mind-i-feared-santa-claus/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“This is a spendthrift economy; though nothing is lost, all is spent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/this-is-a-spendthrift-economy-though-nothing-is-lost-all-is-spent/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The creatures I seek do not want to be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-creatures-i-seek-do-not-want-to-be-seen/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Nothing moves a woman so deeply as the boyhood of the man she loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/nothing-moves-a-woman-so-deeply-as-the-boyhood-of-the-man-she-loves/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [We live in all we seek. 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I am aging and eaten and have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-frayed-and-nibbled-survivor-in-a-fallen-world-and-i-am-getting/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [It should surprise no one that the life of the writer - such as it is - is colorless to the point of sensory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-should-surprise-no-one-that-the-life-of-the-writer-such-as-it-is/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-is-madness-to-wear-ladies-straw-hats-and-velvet-hats-to-church-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [The sense impressions of one-celled animals are not edited for the brain. This is philosophically interesting in a rather mournful way, since it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-sense-impressions-of-one-celled-animals-are-not-edited-for-the/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“What can we make of the inexpressible joy of children? It is a kind of gratitude, I think—the gratitude of the ten-year-old who wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/what-can-we-make-of-the-inexpressible-joy-of-children-it-is-a-kind-of/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“If we were to judge nature by its common sense or likelihood, we wouldn't believe the world existed. In nature, improbabilities are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/if-we-were-to-judge-nature-by-its-common-sense-or-likelihood-we/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [For writing a first draft requires from the writer a peculiar internal state which ordinary life does not induce. ... how to set yourself spinning?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/for-writing-a-first-draft-requires-from-the-writer-a-peculiar/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I am a fugitive and a vagabond, a sojourner seeking signs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-fugitive-and-a-vagabond-a-sojourner-seeking-signs/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) [Explore all 509 Annie Dillard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) ## More Bitter quotes > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. The smell of coalsmoke in the air at night. 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But I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-pleshette/troy-was-a-sweet-good-man-we-just-were-never-destined-to-be-married/) [Suzanne Pleshette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-pleshette/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [One may have been a fool, but there's no foolishness like being bitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-norris/one-may-have-been-a-fool-but-there-s-no-foolishness-like-being-bitter/) [Kathleen Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-norris/) > [“I doubt taking in a sullen, bitter, teenage girl with more issues than National Geographic is at the center of the vision board for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katja-millay/i-doubt-taking-in-a-sullen-bitter-teenage-girl-with-more-issues-than/) [Katja Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katja-millay/) > [Tireless passion, fierce jealousy, longing to possess and crush-these alone were left of all his love for Rosalind; these remained to him as payment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/tireless-passion-fierce-jealousy-longing-to-possess-and-crush-these/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Life is too bitter already, without territories and wars and noble feuds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-too-bitter-already-without-territories-and-wars-and-noble/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [With every interview you feel like you lose a piece of yourself, and with every bad review you become just that little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-march/with-every-interview-you-feel-like-you-lose-a-piece-of-yourself-and/) [Jane March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-march/) > [“Without the bitter, the sweet ain’t as sweet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/without-the-bitter-the-sweet-ain-t-as-sweet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I refuse to be one of those artists who, 10 years from now, they're bitter about the rise and the fall of their career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/i-refuse-to-be-one-of-those-artists-who-10-years-from-now-they-re/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [“In these days in which we live, when existence has become a thing of infinite complexity and fate, if it slips us a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/in-these-days-in-which-we-live-when-existence-has-become-a-thing-of/) [P.G. 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