---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And if these mountains had eyes, they…"
description: "\"And if these mountains had eyes, they would wake to find two strangers in their fences, standing in admiration as a breathing red pours its tinge upon ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/donald-miller-607_admiration_and-if-these-mountains-had-eyes-they-wou_1149005.png"
---

#  And if these mountains had eyes, they would wake to find…

![“And if these mountains had eyes, they would wake to find two strangers in their fences, standing in admiration as a breathing red pours its tinge upon earth's shore. These mountains, which have seen untold sunrises, long to thunder praise but stand reverent, silent so that man's weak praise should…” quote by Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/donald-miller-607_admiration_and-if-these-mountains-had-eyes-they-wou_1149005.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/donald-miller-607_admiration_and-if-these-mountains-had-eyes-they-wou_1149005.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/donald-miller-607_admiration_and-if-these-mountains-had-eyes-they-wou_1149005.png)

> “And if these mountains had eyes, they would wake to find two strangers in their fences, standing in admiration as a breathing red pours its tinge upon earth's shore. These mountains, which have seen untold sunrises, long to thunder praise but stand reverent, silent so that man's weak praise should be given God's attention.”

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker personifies mountains, suggesting they observe human admiration and divine praise, highlighting humility before nature and God.

**In simple terms:** Mountains watch humans and praise God, staying humble.

Key Takeaway

Respect nature and stay humble.

Themes

humility nature spirituality

Mood

awe reflective

Type

poetic spiritual

When to use this quote

- wilderness hikes
- spiritual reflection
- artistic inspiration

Key Concepts

personification divine observation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does nature inspire humility?
- What does divine attention mean to you?

A Different Perspective

Mountains cannot literally see or feel; metaphor may be over‑romanticized.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Admiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Fence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fence/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [God Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-attention-478331/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain/) [Mountains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountains/) [Mountains Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountains-eyes-3238733/) [Mountains Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountains-seen-385572/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red/) [Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shore/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) [Standing Admiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-admiration-3238734/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Sunrise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunrise/) [Thunder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thunder/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak/)

## Related quotes

> [He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-found-himself-wondering-at-times-especially-in-the-autumn-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A wise man from my home once told me that these mountains have seen far too much suffering and killing, and that each rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mortenson/a-wise-man-from-my-home-once-told-me-that-these-mountains-have-seen/)

[Greg Mortenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mortenson/)

> [“Oh Killian." Five immense cliffs rose up from the sea in marvelous grandeur. They were as tall and craggy and enormous as any mountains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-ann-edwards/oh-killian-five-immense-cliffs-rose-up-from-the-sea-in-marvelous/)

[Leigh Ann Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-ann-edwards/)

> [“Also, the Bible does not explicitly say that it was only due to the water’s recession (which all sides agree is indeed a factor)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-ham/also-the-bible-does-not-explicitly-say-that-it-was-only-due-to-the/)

[Ken Ham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-ham/)

> [“That big glorious mountain. For one transitory moment, I think I may have actually seen it”. For one flash, the Mommy had seen the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/that-big-glorious-mountain-for-one-transitory-moment-i-think-i-may/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [Adventure has to do with private, personal experiences. But, the possibilities, there are millions of unclimbed mountains - I have seen in the Eastern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-messner/adventure-has-to-do-with-private-personal-experiences-but-the/)

[Reinhold Messner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-messner/)

> [Know how to get close to it: mountains are often seen from far off - beautiful, interesting, full of challenges. But what happens when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/know-how-to-get-close-to-it-mountains-are-often-seen-from-far-off/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [The sun truly "comes up like thunder," and it sets just as fast. Each sunrise and sunset lasts only a few seconds. But in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-allen/the-sun-truly-comes-up-like-thunder-and-it-sets-just-as-fast-each/)

[Joseph P. Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-allen/)

> [I need someone who believes that the sun will rise again but who does not fear my darkness. Someone who can point out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mahoney/i-need-someone-who-believes-that-the-sun-will-rise-again-but-who-does/)

[Joe Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mahoney/)

> [“I perceived or thought of the Light of God and in it suspended one small mote (or millions of motes to only one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/i-perceived-or-thought-of-the-light-of-god-and-in-it-suspended-one/)

[J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/)

> [I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/i-don-t-know-how-much-god-has-to-do-to-get-the-attention-of-the-2/)

[Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/)

> [The very fact that we have access to God's attention and presence should concentrate the thoughts and elevate the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-very-fact-that-we-have-access-to-god-s-attention-and-presence/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [Prayer is not what you do to get God's attention because you are already God's attenttion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utia/prayer-is-not-what-you-do-to-get-god-s-attention-because-you-are/)

[Utia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utia/)

> [I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/i-don-t-know-how-much-god-has-to-do-to-get-the-attention-of-the/)

[Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/)

> [“We do not pray so that we can get God's attention. We pray so that God will get our attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-benner/we-do-not-pray-so-that-we-can-get-god-s-attention-we-pray-so-that-god/)

[David G. Benner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-benner/)

## More by Donald Miller

> [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [I think each of us can, through our writing, discover our super power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/i-think-each-of-us-can-through-our-writing-discover-our-super-power/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [If you don't feel free and be yourself, you can't connect. Find people who accept your quirks. They'll heal your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/if-you-don-t-feel-free-and-be-yourself-you-can-t-connect-find-people/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [And so I have come to understand that strength, inner strength, comes from receiving love as much as it comes from giving it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/and-so-i-have-come-to-understand-that-strength-inner-strength-comes/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [“Humans, as a species, are constantly, and in every way, comparing themselves to one another, which, given the brief nature of their existence, seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/humans-as-a-species-are-constantly-and-in-every-way-comparing/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [“alone, lonely, and loneliness are three of the most powerful words in the English language... Those words say that we are human; they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/alone-lonely-and-loneliness-are-three-of-the-most-powerful-words-in/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [“It isn't about what you don't get done; it's about what you do get done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/it-isn-t-about-what-you-don-t-get-done-it-s-about-what-you-do-get-done/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [“Most Christians have enormous respect for the space and freedom of others, it is only that they have found a joy in Jesus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/most-christians-have-enormous-respect-for-the-space-and-freedom-of/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [“The soul needs to interact with other people to be healthy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-soul-needs-to-interact-with-other-people-to-be-healthy/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [Don't let go of your strength or your beauty. It was given to you by God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/don-t-let-go-of-your-strength-or-your-beauty-it-was-given-to-you-by/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [There's a lot of letters, and a lot of people come say "hi" at book signings, but I'm amazed at how normal everybody is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-a-lot-of-letters-and-a-lot-of-people-come-say-hi-at-book/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [I am something of a recluse by nature. I am that cordless screwdriver that has to charge for twenty hours to earn ten minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/i-am-something-of-a-recluse-by-nature-i-am-that-cordless-screwdriver/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [The most important thing that happens within Christian spirituality is when a person falls in love with Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-most-important-thing-that-happens-within-christian-spirituality/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [Every day you live is a page. Every year, a chapter. Your life, a book. What is it about?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/every-day-you-live-is-a-page-every-year-a-chapter-your-life-a-book/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [“And that’s the first time I realized that the idea a character is what he does makes as much sense in life as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/and-that-s-the-first-time-i-realized-that-the-idea-a-character-is/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

[Explore all 448 Donald Miller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

## More Admiration quotes

> [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/)

[Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/)

> [The older you've gotten, the more respect and admiration you've received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jupp-heynckes/the-older-you-ve-gotten-the-more-respect-and-admiration-you-ve/)

[Jupp Heynckes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jupp-heynckes/)

> [I still don't feel I know Hitchcock at all. I find that the more one looks, the more elusive he becomes. But my admiration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-jones/i-still-don-t-feel-i-know-hitchcock-at-all-i-find-that-the-more-one/)

[Toby Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-jones/)

> [“There have been those among us who have been so dazzled by the might and technological wizardy of Europe that they have been rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahdaf-soueif/there-have-been-those-among-us-who-have-been-so-dazzled-by-the-might/)

[Ahdaf Soueif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahdaf-soueif/)

> [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Humor is the opposite of all self-admiration and self-praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/humor-is-the-opposite-of-all-self-admiration-and-self-praise/)

[Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/)

> [“A warm, trustworthy person who is also strong elicits admiration, but only after you’ve established trust does your strength become a gift rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-cuddy/a-warm-trustworthy-person-who-is-also-strong-elicits-admiration-but/)

[Amy Cuddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-cuddy/)

> [The book it reminded me of most is Henry Miller’s The Books in My Life. Like Miller, Shields manages to convey his affection for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/the-book-it-reminded-me-of-most-is-henry-miller-s-the-books-in-my/)

[Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/)

> [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/)

[Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/)

> [It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it. But I think it is only important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/it-may-be-important-to-great-thinkers-to-examine-the-world-to-explain/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [“There must be a reason to smile, Miss François. Will you supply one?" It was Daisy's turn to stare. For a long moment they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-jo-wright/there-must-be-a-reason-to-smile-miss-fran-ois-will-you-supply-one-it/)

[Jaime Jo Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-jo-wright/)

> [“Let me make two remarks. First I concentrate on the task ahead for 2016. I’m quite busy with that—thank you very much. And I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-clark/let-me-make-two-remarks-first-i-concentrate-on-the-task-ahead-for/)

[Claudia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-clark/)

> [The holiness of the church means that life, as well as truth, marks Christ’s church; the behavior of Christians in the world must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-clowney/the-holiness-of-the-church-means-that-life-as-well-as-truth-marks/)

[Edmund Clowney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-clowney/)

> [Admittedly great though these reasons be, they are not the principal grounds, that is, those which may rightfully claim for themselves the privilege of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanni-pico-della-mirandola/admittedly-great-though-these-reasons-be-they-are-not-the-principal/)

[Giovanni Pico della Mirandola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanni-pico-della-mirandola/)

> [Doctor Who' is a great part and I grew up with the series, but I've never done anything more than express my admiration for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/doctor-who-is-a-great-part-and-i-grew-up-with-the-series-but-i-ve/)

[Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/)

[Browse all 1,179 Admiration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "And if these mountains had eyes, they would wake to find two strangers in their fences, standing in admiration as a breathing red pours its tinge upon earth's shore. These mountains, which have seen untold sunrises, long to thunder praise but stand reverent, silent so that man's weak praise should be given God's attention.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Donald Miller"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/and-if-these-mountains-had-eyes-they-would-wake-to-find-two-strangers/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Admiration"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/and-if-these-mountains-had-eyes-they-would-wake-to-find-two-strangers/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/donald-miller-607_admiration_and-if-these-mountains-had-eyes-they-wou_1149005.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/donald-miller-607_admiration_and-if-these-mountains-had-eyes-they-wou_1149005.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/donald-miller-607_admiration_and-if-these-mountains-had-eyes-they-wou_1149005.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“And if these mountains had eyes, they would wake to find two strangers in their fences, standing in…” — Donald Miller",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Donald Miller",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "And if these mountains had eyes,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/and-if-these-mountains-had-eyes-they-would-wake-to-find-two-strangers/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/and-if-these-mountains-had-eyes-they-would-wake-to-find-two-strangers/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
