--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For this, deep waters whelm the fruitful…" description: "\"For this, deep waters whelm the fruitful lea, Wars ravage, famine wastes, plague withers, nor Shall cease till men have chosen the better part.\" — Geor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b20/george-macdonald-295_antiwar_for-this-deep-waters-whelm-the-fruitful_1768858.png" --- # For this, deep waters whelm the fruitful lea, Wars ravage… ![“For this, deep waters whelm the fruitful lea, Wars ravage, famine wastes, plague withers, nor Shall cease till men have chosen the better part.” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b20/george-macdonald-295_antiwar_for-this-deep-waters-whelm-the-fruitful_1768858.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b20/george-macdonald-295_antiwar_for-this-deep-waters-whelm-the-fruitful_1768858.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b20/george-macdonald-295_antiwar_for-this-deep-waters-whelm-the-fruitful_1768858.png) > “For this, deep waters whelm the fruitful lea, Wars ravage, famine wastes, plague withers, nor Shall cease till men have chosen the better part.” [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. Human suffering persists until people choose a higher, moral path despite hardships. **In simple terms:** Choose virtue amid adversity. Key Takeaway Seek moral improvement. Themes suffering war plague choice Mood somber thoughtful Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - war zones - public health crises - personal ethical dilemmas Key Concepts Moral philosophy theology Questions to Reflect On - What better part can you choose today? - How does adversity shape your values? A Different Perspective Suffering can also inspire resilience and compassion, not just despair. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Antiwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antiwar/) [Cease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease/) [Chosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chosen/) [Deep water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-water/) [Deep Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-waters-691562/) [Famine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/famine/) [Famine Wastes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/famine-wastes-1759425/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Plague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plague/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wars Ravage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars-ravage-1759422/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Waters Whelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waters-whelm-1759423/) [Withers Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/withers-shall-1759424/) ## Related quotes > [God quickened in the Sea and in the Rivers, So many fishes of so many features, That in the waters we may see all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillaume-de-salluste-du-bartas/god-quickened-in-the-sea-and-in-the-rivers-so-many-fishes-of-so-many/) [Guillaume de Salluste Du Bartas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillaume-de-salluste-du-bartas/) > [“In deep waters, you encounter only the wise and the brave; in shallow waters, the ignorant and the coward!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/in-deep-waters-you-encounter-only-the-wise-and-the-brave-in-shallow/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [You will never know God's strength until He has supported you in deep waters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/you-will-never-know-god-s-strength-until-he-has-supported-you-in-deep/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [God of deep waters and infinite riches, challenge me to go where I fear, to do what is difficult and what I thought could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-kelly/god-of-deep-waters-and-infinite-riches-challenge-me-to-go-where-i/) [Matthew Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-kelly/) > [Its from the deep waters that we come. And we are heartfelt and treacherous like those waters. We come with an unflinching devotion to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-bonet/its-from-the-deep-waters-that-we-come-and-we-are-heartfelt-and/) [Lisa Bonet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-bonet/) > [Too many times we're looking for ways to get around deep waters and dangerous fires, rather than through them. Has this ever been your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macdonald/too-many-times-we-re-looking-for-ways-to-get-around-deep-waters-and/) [James MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macdonald/) > [The deep waters of time will flow over us: only a few men of genius will lift a head above the surface, and though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-deep-waters-of-time-will-flow-over-us-only-a-few-men-of-genius/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The fish cannot leave the deep waters. The state's weaponry should not be displayed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-fish-cannot-leave-the-deep-waters-the-state-s-weaponry-should-not/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“It is in deep waters that God teaches us to swim.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-in-deep-waters-that-god-teaches-us-to-swim/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“However, the path of God is unknown and deep are the waters. Often do we see what is pleasing, take a sudden turn of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-b-brewer/however-the-path-of-god-is-unknown-and-deep-are-the-waters-often-do/) [Nancy B. Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-b-brewer/) > [In chambers deep, Where waters sleep, What unknown treasures pave the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/in-chambers-deep-where-waters-sleep-what-unknown-treasures-pave-the/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [There are many things in the deep waters; and seas and lands may change. And it is not our part here to take thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-many-things-in-the-deep-waters-and-seas-and-lands-may/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And thus it came to pass that the Silmarils found their long homes: one in the airs of heaven, and one in the fires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-thus-it-came-to-pass-that-the-silmarils-found-their-long-homes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“No need for feelings. Shut them off. Be a soldier." Deep Waters by Jessica Patch”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-patch/no-need-for-feelings-shut-them-off-be-a-soldier-deep-waters-by/) [Jessica Patch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-patch/) > [“Trust Him in the Deep Waters!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-r-patch/trust-him-in-the-deep-waters/) [Jessica R. Patch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-r-patch/) ## More by George MacDonald > [“No revelation can be other than partial. If for true revelation a man must be told all the truth, then farewell to revelation; yea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/no-revelation-can-be-other-than-partial-if-for-true-revelation-a-man/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [In low theologies, hell is invariably the deepest truth, and the love of God is not so deep as hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/in-low-theologies-hell-is-invariably-the-deepest-truth-and-the-love/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Life and religion are one, or neither is any thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/life-and-religion-are-one-or-neither-is-any-thing/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [The region belonging to the pure intellect is straitened: the imagination labours to extend its territories, to give it room. She sweeps across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/the-region-belonging-to-the-pure-intellect-is-straitened-the/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. A friend that frowns is better than a smiling enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/come-then-affliction-if-my-father-wills-and-be-my-frowning-friend-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Ah, what is it we send up thither, where our thoughts are either a dissonance or a sweetness and a grace?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/ah-what-is-it-we-send-up-thither-where-our-thoughts-are-either-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [You must learn to be strong in the dark as well as in the day, else you will always be only half brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-must-learn-to-be-strong-in-the-dark-as-well-as-in-the-day-else/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Few delights can equal the mere presence of one whom we trust utterly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/few-delights-can-equal-the-mere-presence-of-one-whom-we-trust-utterly/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“You have tasted of death now,” said the old man. “Is it good?” “It is good,” said Mossy. “It is better than life.” “No,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/you-have-tasted-of-death-now-said-the-old-man-is-it-good-it-is-good/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [ “I wish I had \[made that song\]. No, I don't That would be to take it from somebody else. But it's mine for all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-wish-i-had-made-that-song-no-i-don-t-that-would-be-to-take-it-from/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Past tears are present strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/past-tears-are-present-strength/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Age is not all decay; it is the ripening, the swelling, of the fresh life within, that withers and bursts the husk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/age-is-not-all-decay-it-is-the-ripening-the-swelling-of-the-fresh/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [I want to help you grow as beautiful as God meant you to be when he thought of you first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-want-to-help-you-grow-as-beautiful-as-god-meant-you-to-be-when-he/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Immeasurably imperfect it was, but false the impression could not be, for she saw with the eyes made for seeing, and saw indeed what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/immeasurably-imperfect-it-was-but-false-the-impression-could-not-be/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Those that hope little cannot grow much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/those-that-hope-little-cannot-grow-much/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) [Explore all 720 George MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) ## More Antiwar quotes > [In the struggle of good against evil, it's always the people who get killed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/in-the-struggle-of-good-against-evil-it-s-always-the-people-who-get/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [“... it would be better for our country and the world in general, if at least the few people who were capable of thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/it-would-be-better-for-our-country-and-the-world-in-general-if-at/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [In the eyes of empire builders men are not men but instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/in-the-eyes-of-empire-builders-men-are-not-men-but-instruments/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-statesmen-will-invent-cheap-lies-putting-the-blame-upon-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [My first wish is to see this plague of mankind banished from the earth, and the sons and daughters of this world employed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/my-first-wish-is-to-see-this-plague-of-mankind-banished-from-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The practice of violence, like all action, changes the world, but the most probable change is a more violent world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/the-practice-of-violence-like-all-action-changes-the-world-but-the/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [One reason the United States finds itself at the edge of a foreign policy disaster is its underinformed citizenry, a key weakness in democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-halper/one-reason-the-united-states-finds-itself-at-the-edge-of-a-foreign/) [Stefan Halper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-halper/) > [The worst evils which mankind has ever had to endure were inflicted by bad governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-worst-evils-which-mankind-has-ever-had-to-endure-were-inflicted/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [You cannot be on one hand dedicated to peace and on the other dedicated to violence. Those two things are irreconcilable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/you-cannot-be-on-one-hand-dedicated-to-peace-and-on-the-other/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/free-nations-don-t-develop-weapons-of-mass-destruction/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [...Uncalled-for aggression arouses the hatred of the civilian population...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/uncalled-for-aggression-arouses-the-hatred-of-the-civilian-population/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Studies by Medical Corps psychiatrists of combat fatigue cases... found that fear of killing, rather than fear of being killed, was the most common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-lyman-atwood-marshall/studies-by-medical-corps-psychiatrists-of-combat-fatigue-cases-found/) [Samuel Lyman Atwood Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-lyman-atwood-marshall/) > [I believe that the entire effort of modern society should be concentrated on the endeavor to outlaw war as a method of the solution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/i-believe-that-the-entire-effort-of-modern-society-should-be/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [In war, as it is waged now, with the enormous losses on both sides, both sides will lose. 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