--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He did not torture himself with vain…" description: "\"“He did not torture himself with vain attempts to hold his brain as a mirror to his heart, that he might read his heart there. The heart is deaf and du..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/george-macdonald-295_deaf-and-dumb_he-did-not-torture-himself-with-vain-att_2943748.jpg" --- # He did not torture himself with vain attempts to hold his… ![“He did not torture himself with vain attempts to hold his brain as a mirror to his heart, that he might read his heart there. The heart is deaf and dumb and blind, but it has more in it — more life and blessedness, more torture and death — than any poor knowledge-machine of a brain can understand…” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/george-macdonald-295_deaf-and-dumb_he-did-not-torture-himself-with-vain-att_2943748.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/george-macdonald-295_deaf-and-dumb_he-did-not-torture-himself-with-vain-att_2943748.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/george-macdonald-295_deaf-and-dumb_he-did-not-torture-himself-with-vain-att_2943748.jpg) > ““He did not torture himself with vain attempts to hold his brain as a mirror to his heart, that he might read his heart there. The heart is deaf and dumb and blind, but it has more in it — more life and blessedness, more torture and death — than any poor knowledge-machine of a brain can understand, or even delude itself into the fancy of understanding.”” [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. The heart, unlike the analytical brain, possesses profound, ineffable wisdom and emotion that surpasses rational understanding. **In simple terms:** The heart knows what the brain cannot. Key Takeaway Listen to emotional intuition alongside logic. Themes spirituality emotion philosophy Mood poetic contemplative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - creative work - relationships - therapy Key Concepts inner wisdom mind‑body dualism Questions to Reflect On - When should you trust your heart over logic? - How do you balance feeling and reason? A Different Perspective Rational analysis may dismiss valuable emotional insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deaf and dumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaf-and-dumb/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Human heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-heart/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) ## Related quotes > [A heart is a heart in a child or a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/a-heart-is-a-heart-in-a-child-or-a-man/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [The head talks to the heart and the heart talks to the feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/the-head-talks-to-the-heart-and-the-heart-talks-to-the-feet/) [Pele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/) > [Everyone who knows me knows there is nothing wrong with me - and there is nothing wrong with my heart either. Did I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-van-aanholt/everyone-who-knows-me-knows-there-is-nothing-wrong-with-me-and-there/) [Patrick van Aanholt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-van-aanholt/) > [“So we do not read the Bible simply to fill our minds, but to change our hearts. We do not read the Bible simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-chester-steve-timmis/so-we-do-not-read-the-bible-simply-to-fill-our-minds-but-to-change/) Tim Chester Steve Timmis > [No one is truly literate who cannot read his own heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/no-one-is-truly-literate-who-cannot-read-his-own-heart/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“...you can use words if you wish, but I'm warning you - I've learned how to read your heart ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/you-can-use-words-if-you-wish-but-i-m-warning-you-i-ve-learned-how-to/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [Never lend a book to someone who don't know how to read, never give your heart to someone that don't know how to love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/never-lend-a-book-to-someone-who-don-t-know-how-to-read-never-give/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Ill read my heart out till I find you and I in my love story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-johnson/ill-read-my-heart-out-till-i-find-you-and-i-in-my-love-story/) [Natalya Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-johnson/) > [If you could read my heart, you'd be in tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-could-read-my-heart-you-d-be-in-tears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [O, I have read his Heart in his wicked eyes many a time. The very devil is in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/o-i-have-read-his-heart-in-his-wicked-eyes-many-a-time-the-very-devil/) [Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/) > [Read the heart and not the letter for the pen cannot draw near the good intent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/read-the-heart-and-not-the-letter-for-the-pen-cannot-draw-near-the/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [“Read to your heart's content. Though if you are a reader, the heart is never content.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-hubbard/read-to-your-heart-s-content-though-if-you-are-a-reader-the-heart-is/) [Jenny Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-hubbard/) > [The words of my heart are the steps of my fingers on the keyboard to let your eyes read, and your heart feel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yllom28/the-words-of-my-heart-are-the-steps-of-my-fingers-on-the-keyboard-to/) Yllom28 > [ “The books talked about it \[the heart\] as if it were a sump pump stuck down in the muck and mire of somebody’s backyard.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-martin/the-books-talked-about-it-the-heart-as-if-it-were-a-sump-pump-stuck/) [Charles Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-martin/) > [“He tried to read her heart in her handclasp but he knew nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/he-tried-to-read-her-heart-in-her-handclasp-but-he-knew-nothing/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) ## 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 Deaf and dumb quotes > [“In the symbiotic community of the forest, not only trees but also shrubs and grasses—and possibly all plant species—exchange information this way. However, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-wohlleben/in-the-symbiotic-community-of-the-forest-not-only-trees-but-also/) [Peter Wohlleben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-wohlleben/) > [I was deaf and dumb and blind to all but me, myself and I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-young/i-was-deaf-and-dumb-and-blind-to-all-but-me-myself-and-i/) [Loretta Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-young/) > [Watch me when people say deaf and dumb, or deaf mute, and I give them a look like you might get if you called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/watch-me-when-people-say-deaf-and-dumb-or-deaf-mute-and-i-give-them-a/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [“You might almost say, that this strange uncompromisedness in him involved a sort of unintelegence; for in his numerous trades, he did not seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/you-might-almost-say-that-this-strange-uncompromisedness-in-him/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [This habit of free speaking at ladies' lunches has impaired society; it has doubtless led to many of the tragedies of divorce and marital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-w-sherwood/this-habit-of-free-speaking-at-ladies-lunches-has-impaired-society-it/) [M. E. W. Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-w-sherwood/) > [Never give all the heart, for love Will hardly seem worth thinking of To passionate women if it seem Certain, and they never dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-give-all-the-heart-for-love-will-hardly-seem-worth-thinking-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Mrs. HOWE (Julia Ward)–Wife of Dr. Howe, of Boston, famous as a teacher of the deaf and dumb. This lady is here, giving a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-k-beale/mrs-howe-julia-ward-wife-of-dr-howe-of-boston-famous-as-a-teacher-of/) Howard K. Beale > [Fairly Used Chicken for sale… Xmas promo is here: Tokunbo chicken, Buy 1 and get 1 free \* London used chicken - N1,200 \*…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glory-ebri/fairly-used-chicken-for-sale-xmas-promo-is-here-tokunbo-chicken-buy-1/) [Glory Ebri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glory-ebri/) > [“91 THE HONESTY OF GOD. An omniscient and omnipotent God who does not even take care that His intentions shall be understood by His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/91-the-honesty-of-god-an-omniscient-and-omnipotent-god-who-does-not/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Nothing so removes a man from his inner, mysterious, real life, nothing makes him so deaf and dumb as the picture of these petty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-odoevsky/nothing-so-removes-a-man-from-his-inner-mysterious-real-life-nothing/) [Vladimir Odoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-odoevsky/) > [We're blind, deaf and dumb. It is only that Self, which is our life force that makes who and what we are. The realization…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/we-re-blind-deaf-and-dumb-it-is-only-that-self-which-is-our-life/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I use the grotesque the way I do because people are deaf and dumb and need help to see and hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/i-use-the-grotesque-the-way-i-do-because-people-are-deaf-and-dumb-and/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [“Plunged up to the ears in work, good friend!" thought Oblomov as he watched him depart. "Yes, and blind and deaf and dumb to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-goncharov/plunged-up-to-the-ears-in-work-good-friend-thought-oblomov-as-he/) [Ivan Goncharov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-goncharov/) > [I can preach until your deaf and dumb, I'm in that soul saving army beating on that big bass drum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-presley/i-can-preach-until-your-deaf-and-dumb-i-m-in-that-soul-saving-army/) [Elvis Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-presley/) > [“I did say that to deny the existence of evil spirits, or to deny the existence of the devil, is to deny the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/i-did-say-that-to-deny-the-existence-of-evil-spirits-or-to-deny-the/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) [Browse all 37 Deaf and dumb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaf-and-dumb/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He did not torture himself with vain attempts to hold his brain as a mirror to his heart, that he might read his heart there. 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