--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is not the high summer alone that is…" description: "\"It is not the high summer alone that is God's. The winter also is His. And into His winter He came to visit us. And all man's winters are His - the win..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/511/george-macdonald-295_discontent_it-is-not-the-high-summer-alone-that-is_2629683.jpg" --- # It is not the high summer alone that is God's. The winter… ![“It is not the high summer alone that is God's. The winter also is His. And into His winter He came to visit us. And all man's winters are His - the winter of our poverty, the winter of our sorrow, the winter of our unhappiness - even 'the winter of our discontent.” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/511/george-macdonald-295_discontent_it-is-not-the-high-summer-alone-that-is_2629683.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/511/george-macdonald-295_discontent_it-is-not-the-high-summer-alone-that-is_2629683.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/511/george-macdonald-295_discontent_it-is-not-the-high-summer-alone-that-is_2629683.jpg) > “It is not the high summer alone that is God's. The winter also is His. And into His winter He came to visit us. And all man's winters are His - the winter of our poverty, the winter of our sorrow, the winter of our unhappiness - even 'the winter of our discontent.” [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. God's presence is in both joy and suffering; even hardships belong to Him and can be a source of spiritual growth. **In simple terms:** God is with us in good and bad times. Key Takeaway Find purpose in hardship. Themes faith suffering divine presence Mood reflective hopeful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal loss - seasonal depression - community support Key Concepts theodicy spiritual resilience Questions to Reflect On - What winter of your life can you see as purposeful? - How does recognizing divine presence alter your response to hardship? A Different Perspective Suffering may not always lead to growth without reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discontent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discontent/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) [Summer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer/) [Unhappiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappiness/) [Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winter/) ## Related quotes > [“Whatever it is, let it go. Give it to God." At Winter's End Ruth Logan Herne”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-logan-herne/whatever-it-is-let-it-go-give-it-to-god-at-winter-s-end-ruth-logan/) [Ruth Logan Herne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-logan-herne/) > [I'm free as a bird flying over the sea. Just can't find the summer. If there's a God in the sky or a devil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-jackson/i-m-free-as-a-bird-flying-over-the-sea-just-can-t-find-the-summer-if/) [Andrew Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-jackson/) > [O brief, bright smile of summer! O days divine and dear The voices of winter's sorrow Already we can hear. And we know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celia-thaxter/o-brief-bright-smile-of-summer-o-days-divine-and-dear-the-voices-of/) [Celia Thaxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celia-thaxter/) > [ Winter came and the city \[Chicago\] turned monochrome -- black trees against gray sky above white earth. Night now fell in midafternoon, especially when… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/winter-came-and-the-city-chicago-turned-monochrome-black-trees/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [When the short days of winter came, dusk fell before we had well eaten our dinners. When we met in the street the houses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/when-the-short-days-of-winter-came-dusk-fell-before-we-had-well-eaten/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [The summer lasted a long long time, like verse after verse of a ballad, but when it ended, it ended like a man falling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardyth-kennelly/the-summer-lasted-a-long-long-time-like-verse-after-verse-of-a-ballad/) [Ardyth Kennelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardyth-kennelly/) > [“Winter came in days that were gray and still. They were the kind of days in which people locked in their animals and themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mildred-d-taylor/winter-came-in-days-that-were-gray-and-still-they-were-the-kind-of/) [Mildred D. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mildred-d-taylor/) > [“Winter came to an end, and spring arrived, in its fully glory. I remember looking at the blooming trees and flowers and thinking of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-orenstein/winter-came-to-an-end-and-spring-arrived-in-its-fully-glory-i/) Henry Orenstein > [“I wanted a life of my own, a life where I could feel myself being a part of Winter. And that, to me, came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-raasch/i-wanted-a-life-of-my-own-a-life-where-i-could-feel-myself-being-a/) [Sara Raasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-raasch/) > [It is reported from 'Ubayd ibn 'Umayr (radiAllahu anhu) that he said: "It used to be said when winter came: O people of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abu-nu-aym/it-is-reported-from-ubayd-ibn-umayr-radiallahu-anhu-that-he-said-it/) [Abu Nu`aym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abu-nu-aym/) > [“The winter came with blossoms and the bees left their hive, The love was ephemeral when he became the prince charming, And the unbalanced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sarraf/the-winter-came-with-blossoms-and-the-bees-left-their-hive-the-love/) J. Sarraf > [Just when they thought I was done for the winter, I came out stuntin I'm such a big spender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/just-when-they-thought-i-was-done-for-the-winter-i-came-out-stuntin-i/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [“Just let me wait a little while longer, Under your window in the quite snow. Let me stand here and shiver, I’ll be stronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-shulman/just-let-me-wait-a-little-while-longer-under-your-window-in-the-quite/) [Polly Shulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-shulman/) > [For a successful revolution it is not enough that there is discontent. What is required is a profound and thorough conviction of the justice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/for-a-successful-revolution-it-is-not-enough-that-there-is-discontent/) [B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## 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 Discontent quotes > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [For a successful revolution it is not enough that there is discontent. What is required is a profound and thorough conviction of the justice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/for-a-successful-revolution-it-is-not-enough-that-there-is-discontent/) [B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) > [“She was tired of the flaming thoughts of discontent that kept her awake at night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-gaffney/she-was-tired-of-the-flaming-thoughts-of-discontent-that-kept-her/) [Virginia Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-gaffney/) > [The oppressed without hope are mysteriously quiet. When the conception of change is beyond the limits of the possible, there are no words to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-rowbotham/the-oppressed-without-hope-are-mysteriously-quiet-when-the-conception/) [Sheila Rowbotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-rowbotham/) > [“Comparison with myself brings improvement, comparison with others brings discontent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-jamie-chung/comparison-with-myself-brings-improvement-comparison-with-others/) [Betty Jamie Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-jamie-chung/) > [I am profoundly in the D's - discouraged, depressed, disheartened, disgusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-dunbar-nelson/i-am-profoundly-in-the-d-s-discouraged-depressed-disheartened/) [Alice Dunbar Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-dunbar-nelson/) > [Any writer worth his salt writes to please himself...It's a self-exploratory operation that is endless. An exorcism of not necessarily his demon, but of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/any-writer-worth-his-salt-writes-to-please-himself-it-s-a-self/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [While the principles of our Constitution give just latitude to inquiry, every citizen faithful to it will deem embodied expressions of discontent and open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/while-the-principles-of-our-constitution-give-just-latitude-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“And since he was seeing more and more people who were unhappy for no apparent reason, he was becoming more and more tired, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-ois-lelord/and-since-he-was-seeing-more-and-more-people-who-were-unhappy-for-no/) [François Lelord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-ois-lelord/) > [You can spend your whole life complaining about how much you hate life or you can spend it finding new ways to love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/you-can-spend-your-whole-life-complaining-about-how-much-you-hate/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I grieve and dare not show my discontent, I love and yet am forced to seem to hate, I do, yet dare not say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-grieve-and-dare-not-show-my-discontent-i-love-and-yet-am-forced-to/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [Upon the profound discontent of the young in every country do I set my faith. I beg you, the young, to be discontented. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/upon-the-profound-discontent-of-the-young-in-every-country-do-i-set/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [Love is maintain'd by wealth: when all is spent, Adversity then breeds the discontent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herrick/love-is-maintain-d-by-wealth-when-all-is-spent-adversity-then-breeds/) [Robert Herrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herrick/) > [Everything becomes so problematic because of basic faults: from a discontent with myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-freud/everything-becomes-so-problematic-because-of-basic-faults-from-a/) [Anna Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-freud/) > [“One whisper, Judith, added to a thousand others will become a roar of discontent even”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/one-whisper-judith-added-to-a-thousand-others-will-become-a-roar-of/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) [Browse all 450 Discontent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discontent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is not the high summer alone that is God's. 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