--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What was once impossible now summons us…" description: "\"What was once impossible now summons us to dismantle the walls between ourselves and our sisters and brothers, to dissolve the distinctions between fle..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/george-leonard-14208_atoms_what-was-once-impossible-now-summons-us_495494.jpg" --- # What was once impossible now summons us to dismantle the… ![“What was once impossible now summons us to dismantle the walls between ourselves and our sisters and brothers, to dissolve the distinctions between flesh and spirit, to transcend the present limits of time and matter, to find, at last, not wealth or power but the ecstasy (so long forgotten) of…” quote by George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/george-leonard-14208_atoms_what-was-once-impossible-now-summons-us_495494.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/george-leonard-14208_atoms_what-was-once-impossible-now-summons-us_495494.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/george-leonard-14208_atoms_what-was-once-impossible-now-summons-us_495494.jpg) > “What was once impossible now summons us to dismantle the walls between ourselves and our sisters and brothers, to dissolve the distinctions between flesh and spirit, to transcend the present limits of time and matter, to find, at last, not wealth or power but the ecstasy (so long forgotten) of commonplace, unconditional being. For the atom's soul is nothing but energy. Spirit blazes in the dullest of clay. The life of every woman or man-the heart of it-is pure and holy joy.” [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True fulfillment comes from transcending material goals, embracing shared humanity, and experiencing pure, unconditional joy. **In simple terms:** Joy comes from unity, not wealth. Key Takeaway Seek connection over possession. Themes spirituality humanity transcendence joy unity Mood hopeful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - community building - meditation - artistic collaboration - social activism Key Concepts energy consciousness collective well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance spiritual joy with daily responsibilities? - What practices foster unconditional being? A Different Perspective Idealism may overlook practical needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atoms/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Brothers and sisters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers-and-sisters/) [Distinction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinction/) [Ecstasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ecstasy/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Holy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holy/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [For the atom's soul is nothing but energy. Spirit blazes in the dullest of clay. The life of every woman or man - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/for-the-atom-s-soul-is-nothing-but-energy-spirit-blazes-in-the/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [Your body is not who you are. The mind and spirit transcend the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/your-body-is-not-who-you-are-the-mind-and-spirit-transcend-the-body/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The human spirit must transcend number and break through multiplicity, and God will break through him; and just as He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/the-human-spirit-must-transcend-number-and-break-through-multiplicity/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Lying, stealing, and cheating are commonplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/lying-stealing-and-cheating-are-commonplace/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [The profession of music is lacking in horse sense, not only because the commonplace variety of horse is absent from its operations, but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-partch/the-profession-of-music-is-lacking-in-horse-sense-not-only-because/) [Harry Partch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-partch/) > [Great geniuses have the shortest biographies. Their cousins can tell you nothing about them. They lived in their writings, and sotheir house and street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/great-geniuses-have-the-shortest-biographies-their-cousins-can-tell/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“In a sense nothing is commonplace, for everything exists visibly by means of light and color, and light and color are the most fundamental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-parkhurst-the-painter-in-oil/in-a-sense-nothing-is-commonplace-for-everything-exists-visibly-by/) David Parkhurst The Painter In Oil > [After all, the commonplaces are the great poetic truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/after-all-the-commonplaces-are-the-great-poetic-truths/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [Ever since childhood I have scorned the commonplace limits so often set upon human ambition. Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury - to me these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/ever-since-childhood-i-have-scorned-the-commonplace-limits-so-often/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [To be original is to discover the commonplace of a thousand years--to face at first the sneer that no one would have thought of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-stanley-lee/to-be-original-is-to-discover-the-commonplace-of-a-thousand-years-to/) [Gerald Stanley Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-stanley-lee/) > [Funerals and weddings were commonplace, and nothing could have been so interesting to them as the coming of the end of the world ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-eggleston/funerals-and-weddings-were-commonplace-and-nothing-could-have-been-so/) [Edward Eggleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-eggleston/) > [Security is a component of everyday life that one spending time in Washington, D.C., gets accustomed to. Metal detectors, police vehicle barriers and heavily-armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-crapo/security-is-a-component-of-everyday-life-that-one-spending-time-in/) [Mike Crapo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-crapo/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [It would be a piece of ingenuousness to accuse the man of today of his lack of moral code. The accusation would leave him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/it-would-be-a-piece-of-ingenuousness-to-accuse-the-man-of-today-of/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [It was just the sort of yatch you'd expect a rock promoter to have. Mirrored ceilings, marble, Jacuzzis and leopard-skin everything, it made the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-anderson/it-was-just-the-sort-of-yatch-you-d-expect-a-rock-promoter-to-have/) [Pamela Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-anderson/) ## More by George Leonard > [Education is... doing anything that changes you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/education-is-doing-anything-that-changes-you/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [What if you're practicing wrong? Then you get very good at doing something wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/what-if-you-re-practicing-wrong-then-you-get-very-good-at-doing/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [“Competition is the spice of sports; but if you make spice the whole meal you'll be sick. The simplest single-celled organism oscillates to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/competition-is-the-spice-of-sports-but-if-you-make-spice-the-whole/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [Mastery is the art of setting your foot on the path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/mastery-is-the-art-of-setting-your-foot-on-the-path/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [In terms of the game theory, we might say the universe is so constituted as to maximize play. The best games are not those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/in-terms-of-the-game-theory-we-might-say-the-universe-is-so/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [How do you best move toward mastery? To put it simply, you practice diligently, but you practice primarily for the sake of the practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/how-do-you-best-move-toward-mastery-to-put-it-simply-you-practice/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [To love the plateau is to love what is most essential and enduring in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/to-love-the-plateau-is-to-love-what-is-most-essential-and-enduring-in/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [Perhaps the safest prediction we can make about the future is that it will surprise us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/perhaps-the-safest-prediction-we-can-make-about-the-future-is-that-it/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [Now here is a key: you want to make it real and present in the realm of your consciousness. You don't say "I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/now-here-is-a-key-you-want-to-make-it-real-and-present-in-the-realm/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [“Intentionality fuels the master's journey. Every master is a master of vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/intentionality-fuels-the-master-s-journey-every-master-is-a-master-of/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [At the heart of each of us, whatever our imperfections, there exists a silence pulse of perfect rhythm which is absolutely individual and unique,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/at-the-heart-of-each-of-us-whatever-our-imperfections-there-exists-a/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [Competition is the spice of sports; but if you make spice the whole meal you'll be sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/competition-is-the-spice-of-sports-but-if-you-make-spice-the-whole-2/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [At the root of all power and motion, there is music and rhythm, the play of patterned frequencies against the matrix of time, Before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/at-the-root-of-all-power-and-motion-there-is-music-and-rhythm-the-2/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [“Each subatomic particle within you is in touch with all that is. Every particle in the universe takes its characteristics from the pitch and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/each-subatomic-particle-within-you-is-in-touch-with-all-that-is-every/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [Not to dream more boldly may turn out to be, in view of present realities, simply irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/not-to-dream-more-boldly-may-turn-out-to-be-in-view-of-present/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) [Explore all 47 George Leonard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) ## More Atoms quotes > [If the polymer chain assumes a helicoidal conformation in the crystalline state, and if it does not contain asymmetric carbon atoms, it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giulio-natta/if-the-polymer-chain-assumes-a-helicoidal-conformation-in-the/) Giulio Natta > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [A monkey is unaware that atoms exist. Likewise, our brainpower may not stretch to the deepest aspects of reality. The bedrock nature of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/a-monkey-is-unaware-that-atoms-exist-likewise-our-brainpower-may-not/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) > [ \[Decoding the human genome sequence\] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-the-most-significant/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Though an atom is invisible, unthinkable, yet in it are the whole power and potency of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/though-an-atom-is-invisible-unthinkable-yet-in-it-are-the-whole-power/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Traditional nationalism cannot survive the fissioning of the atom. One world or none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-chase/traditional-nationalism-cannot-survive-the-fissioning-of-the-atom-one/) [Stuart Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-chase/) > [I am not sure why, but I have been obsessed by the Atom Bomb ever since it first happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanford-wilson/i-am-not-sure-why-but-i-have-been-obsessed-by-the-atom-bomb-ever/) [Lanford Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanford-wilson/) > [History is the short trudge from Adam to atom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/history-is-the-short-trudge-from-adam-to-atom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The dogma of the impossibility of determining the atomic constitution of substances, which until recently was advocated with such fervor by the most able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-korner/the-dogma-of-the-impossibility-of-determining-the-atomic-constitution/) Wilhelm Korner > [I have never seen what to me seemed an atom of proof that there is a future life. And yet-I am inclined to expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-seen-what-to-me-seemed-an-atom-of-proof-that-there-is-a/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“An atom is mostly made up of empty space. If you remove the empty space from every atom, the entire world's human population could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weike-wang/an-atom-is-mostly-made-up-of-empty-space-if-you-remove-the-empty/) [Weike Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weike-wang/) > [Nature is full of wonders; every atom is a standing miracle, and endowed with such qualities, as could not be impressed on it by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/nature-is-full-of-wonders-every-atom-is-a-standing-miracle-and/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [ “\[Think\] of an experience from your childhood. Something you remember clearly, something you can see, feel, maybe even smell, as if you were really… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-grand/think-of-an-experience-from-your-childhood-something-you-remember/) [Steve Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-grand/) > [The books remind us that way down deep in our hearts, part of us knows that we are creatures of light and we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-books-remind-us-that-way-down-deep-in-our-hearts-part-of-us-knows/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) [Browse all 852 Atoms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atoms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What was once impossible now summons us to dismantle the walls between ourselves and our sisters and brothers, to dissolve the distinctions between flesh and spirit, to transcend the present limits of time and matter, to find, at last, not wealth or power but the ecstasy (so long forgotten) of commonplace, unconditional being. 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