--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are not many people who can think…" description: "\"“There are not many people who can think about beautiful things and do common work at the same time. But then there are not many people who have been t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/george-macdonald-295_north-wind_there-are-not-many-people-who-can-think_1540713.png" --- # There are not many people who can think about beautiful… ![“There are not many people who can think about beautiful things and do common work at the same time. But then there are not many people who have been to the back of the north wind.” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/george-macdonald-295_north-wind_there-are-not-many-people-who-can-think_1540713.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/george-macdonald-295_north-wind_there-are-not-many-people-who-can-think_1540713.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/george-macdonald-295_north-wind_there-are-not-many-people-who-can-think_1540713.png) > ““There are not many people who can think about beautiful things and do common work at the same time. But then there are not many people who have been to the back of the north wind.”” [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. Few can appreciate beauty while doing ordinary work, and even fewer have experienced the harsh, unseen forces of nature. **In simple terms:** Rarely can one think of beauty and do common work together. Key Takeaway Cultivate appreciation for beauty amid daily tasks. Themes beauty work nature Mood inspirational poetic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - creative professions - manual labor - adversity coping Key Concepts aesthetic appreciation resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you notice beauty in everyday chores? - What “north wind” challenges have you faced? A Different Perspective Beauty may be overlooked in routine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-work-5737022/) [North wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/north-wind/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-north-2065630/) [People Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-think/) ## Related quotes > [“How kind you are, North Wind!' 'I am only just. All kindness is but justice. We owe it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/how-kind-you-are-north-wind-i-am-only-just-all-kindness-is-but/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Ah, but, dear North Wind, you don't know how nice it is to feel your arms about me. It is a thousand times better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/ah-but-dear-north-wind-you-don-t-know-how-nice-it-is-to-feel-your/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [...though I cannot promise to take you home," said North Wind, as she sank nearer and nearer to the tops of the houses, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/though-i-cannot-promise-to-take-you-home-said-north-wind-as-she-sank/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [I think a lot of concern of the people in the north is that one hears constant reports in talking to them is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paikiasothy-saravanamuttu/i-think-a-lot-of-concern-of-the-people-in-the-north-is-that-one-hears/) [Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paikiasothy-saravanamuttu/) > [You could count on the fingers of one hand the number of people in the north who said to me, 'When did you leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/you-could-count-on-the-fingers-of-one-hand-the-number-of-people-in/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [Growing up in Georgia, I used to think people up north or out west were so different. They're really not. They're just regular people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/growing-up-in-georgia-i-used-to-think-people-up-north-or-out-west/) [Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/) > [Who do you think's better looking people in the north or people in the south?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umar/who-do-you-think-s-better-looking-people-in-the-north-or-people-in/) [Umar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umar/) > [The British people in the north are very friendly and treat me well on the streets. They have great respect and don't bother me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-silva/the-british-people-in-the-north-are-very-friendly-and-treat-me-well/) [Bernardo Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-silva/) > [I discovered that the people of the North are different and there's no way you can make a person from the North similar to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-pekka-salonen/i-discovered-that-the-people-of-the-north-are-different-and-there-s/) [Esa-Pekka Salonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-pekka-salonen/) > [You mistake, too, the people of the North. They are a peaceable people but an earnest people, and they will fight, too. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/you-mistake-too-the-people-of-the-north-they-are-a-peaceable-people/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [People from North India are generally known to be aggressive and emotional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virat-kohli/people-from-north-india-are-generally-known-to-be-aggressive-and/) [Virat Kohli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virat-kohli/) > [The heart of the People, North and South, is for the Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-everett/the-heart-of-the-people-north-and-south-is-for-the-union/) [Edward Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-everett/) > [When you have a small town where all of a sudden there's 3,000 black people living in a neighborhood where there were never black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-carpignano/when-you-have-a-small-town-where-all-of-a-sudden-there-s-3-000-black/) [Jonas Carpignano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-carpignano/) > [The Scottish people and the people of the north-east are very similar - they love their football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-souness/the-scottish-people-and-the-people-of-the-north-east-are-very-similar/) [Graeme Souness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-souness/) > [I have reared a memorial more enduring than brass, and loftier than the regal structure of the pyramids, which neither the corroding shower nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/i-have-reared-a-memorial-more-enduring-than-brass-and-loftier-than/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) ## 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 North wind quotes > [I have reared a memorial more enduring than brass, and loftier than the regal structure of the pyramids, which neither the corroding shower nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/i-have-reared-a-memorial-more-enduring-than-brass-and-loftier-than/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [“Ah, but, dear North Wind, you don't know how nice it is to feel your arms about me. It is a thousand times better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/ah-but-dear-north-wind-you-don-t-know-how-nice-it-is-to-feel-your/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“the cold and bitter scorn of the passers-by penetrated her very flesh and soul like a north wind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-cold-and-bitter-scorn-of-the-passers-by-penetrated-her-very-flesh/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [It is the sea that whitens the roof. The sea drifts through the winter air. It is the sea that the north wind makes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/it-is-the-sea-that-whitens-the-roof-the-sea-drifts-through-the-winter/) [Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/) > [Life is short. It can come and go like a feather in the wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/life-is-short-it-can-come-and-go-like-a-feather-in-the-wind/) [Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/) > [Nothing easier. One step beyond the pole, you see, and the north wind becomes a south one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-peary/nothing-easier-one-step-beyond-the-pole-you-see-and-the-north-wind/) [Robert Peary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-peary/) > [Come, see the north-wind's masonry, Out of an unseen quarry evermore Furnished with tile, the fierce artificer Curves his white bastions with projected roof…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/come-see-the-north-wind-s-masonry-out-of-an-unseen-quarry-evermore/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Up from the sea, the wild north wind is blowing, under the sky's gray arch. Smiling, I watch the shaken elm boughs, knowing It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/up-from-the-sea-the-wild-north-wind-is-blowing-under-the-sky-s-gray/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [Leaves have their time to fall, And flowers to wither at the north - wind's breath, And stars to set; but all, Thou hast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/leaves-have-their-time-to-fall-and-flowers-to-wither-at-the-north/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [...though I cannot promise to take you home," said North Wind, as she sank nearer and nearer to the tops of the houses, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/though-i-cannot-promise-to-take-you-home-said-north-wind-as-she-sank/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [Outside, the north wind, coming and passing, swelling and dying, lifts the frozen sand drives it a-rattle against the lidless windows and we may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carlos-williams/outside-the-north-wind-coming-and-passing-swelling-and-dying-lifts/) [William Carlos Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carlos-williams/) > [If we were to imagine an orange on the blue side or green on the red side or violet on the yellow side, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/if-we-were-to-imagine-an-orange-on-the-blue-side-or-green-on-the-red/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [It is the north wind that lashes men into Vikings; it is the soft, luscious south wind which lulls them to lotus dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/it-is-the-north-wind-that-lashes-men-into-vikings-it-is-the-soft/) [Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/) > [“North with the wind in the left eye and a blessing on your footsteps!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/north-with-the-wind-in-the-left-eye-and-a-blessing-on-your-footsteps/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/though-his-voice-may-shatter-your-dreams-as-the-north-wind-lays-waste/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) [Browse all 18 North wind quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/north-wind/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There are not many people who can think about beautiful things and do common work at the same time. 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