--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A mountain is a strange and awful thing…" description: "\"“A mountain is a strange and awful thing. In old times, without knowing so much of their strangeness and awfulness as we do, people were yet more afrai..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e3/george-macdonald-295_fear_a-mountain-is-a-strange-and-awful-thing_1490747.jpg" --- # A mountain is a strange and awful thing. In old times… ![“A mountain is a strange and awful thing. In old times, without knowing so much of their strangeness and awfulness as we do, people were yet more afraid of mountains. But then somehow they had not come to see how beautiful they are as well as awful, and they hated them--and what people hate they…” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e3/george-macdonald-295_fear_a-mountain-is-a-strange-and-awful-thing_1490747.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e3/george-macdonald-295_fear_a-mountain-is-a-strange-and-awful-thing_1490747.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e3/george-macdonald-295_fear_a-mountain-is-a-strange-and-awful-thing_1490747.jpg) > ““A mountain is a strange and awful thing. In old times, without knowing so much of their strangeness and awfulness as we do, people were yet more afraid of mountains. But then somehow they had not come to see how beautiful they are as well as awful, and they hated them--and what people hate they must fear. Now that we have learned to look at them with admiration, perhaps we do not feel quite awe enough of them. To me they are beautiful terrors.”” [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mountains embody both awe‑inspiring beauty and terrifying power, and humans shift between fear and admiration as understanding grows. **In simple terms:** Mountains are beautiful yet terrifying, and our feelings change with knowledge. Key Takeaway Respect both the wonder and danger of great things. Themes nature beauty fear admiration Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - hiking - mountain climbing - environmental education - photography Key Concepts aesthetic duality psychology of awe Questions to Reflect On - How does increased knowledge change your fear of the unknown? - What balance should be struck between awe and respect? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on admiration can diminish healthy caution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Mountains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountains/) [Old times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-times/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Esperanza leaned around the side of the truck. As they rounded a curve, it appeared as if the mountains pulled away from each other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-mu-oz-ryan/esperanza-leaned-around-the-side-of-the-truck-as-they-rounded-a-curve/) [Pam Munoz Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-mu-oz-ryan/) > [If prosecutors in the state of Utah continue on the path they are on in seeking us out, I hate to tell you what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-green/if-prosecutors-in-the-state-of-utah-continue-on-the-path-they-are-on/) [Tom Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-green/) > [I don't climb mountains. Mountains climb me. 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