--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: you understood any world besides your…" description: "\"“you understood any world besides your own, you would understand your own much better.—When a heart is really alive, then it is able to think live thin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/george-macdonald-295_big-heart_you-understood-any-world-besides-your-ow_3104474.png" --- # you understood any world besides your own, you would… ![“you understood any world besides your own, you would understand your own much better.—When a heart is really alive, then it is able to think live things. There is one heart all whose thoughts are strong, happy creatures, and whose very dreams are lives. When some pray, they lift heavy thoughts…” quote by George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/george-macdonald-295_big-heart_you-understood-any-world-besides-your-ow_3104474.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/george-macdonald-295_big-heart_you-understood-any-world-besides-your-ow_3104474.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/872/george-macdonald-295_big-heart_you-understood-any-world-besides-your-ow_3104474.png) > ““you understood any world besides your own, you would understand your own much better.—When a heart is really alive, then it is able to think live things. There is one heart all whose thoughts are strong, happy creatures, and whose very dreams are lives. When some pray, they lift heavy thoughts from the ground, only to drop them on it again; others send up their prayers in living shapes, this or that, the nearest likeness to each. All live things were thoughts to begin with, and are fit therefore to be used by those that think. When one says to the great Thinker:—‘Here is one of thy thoughts: I am thinking it now!’ that is a prayer—a word to the big heart”” [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. Understanding others’ worlds deepens self‑knowledge; a living heart thinks and creates, turning thoughts into prayers and actions. **In simple terms:** Seeing others helps know yourself; thoughts become prayers. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy to enrich personal insight. Themes empathy self‑knowledge creativity spirituality Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal growth - creative writing - spiritual practice Key Concepts interconnectedness living thought prayer as action Questions to Reflect On - What does “thinking live things” mean to you? - How can you turn thoughts into meaningful actions? A Different Perspective Empathy may be limited by bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-heart/) [Lift Heavy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lift-heavy/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) ## Related quotes > [They spend more time in analyzing, in collecting materials, and in hard thinking than on prayer, on seeking God's mind, and on waiting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/they-spend-more-time-in-analyzing-in-collecting-materials-and-in-hard/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [“Thinking and prayer are much the same thing anyway, when you stop to think about it -- if that makes any sense. Prayer goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/thinking-and-prayer-are-much-the-same-thing-anyway-when-you-stop-to-2/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [“If we are honest, most of us have to admit that prayer is often more of an obligation than something arising spontaneously from desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-benner/if-we-are-honest-most-of-us-have-to-admit-that-prayer-is-often-more/) [David G. Benner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-benner/) > [“To know you are a beloved child of God protects you from thinking of prayer as a ladder to God or an exercise by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-reeves/to-know-you-are-a-beloved-child-of-god-protects-you-from-thinking-of/) [Michael Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-reeves/) > [“Thinking and prayer are much the same thing anyway, when you stop to think about it—if that makes any sense. Prayer goes up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/thinking-and-prayer-are-much-the-same-thing-anyway-when-you-stop-to/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [“Thinking is indispensable on the path to passion for God. Thinking is not an end in itself. Nothing but God himself is finally an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/thinking-is-indispensable-on-the-path-to-passion-for-god-thinking-is/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Who are you? Tell me for more certainty. Albeit, I'll swear that I do know your tongue. Lorenzo: Lorenzo, and thy love. Jessica: Lorenzo,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/who-are-you-tell-me-for-more-certainty-albeit-i-ll-swear-that-i-do/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Alas! fond child, How are thy thoughts beguil'd To hope for honey from a nest of wasps? Thou may'st as well Go seek for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/alas-fond-child-how-are-thy-thoughts-beguil-d-to-hope-for-honey-from/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [I would not have thee believe in what I say nor trust in what I do — for my words are naught but thy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil/i-would-not-have-thee-believe-in-what-i-say-nor-trust-in-what-i-do/) [Khalil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil/) > [Always remember to bound thy thoughts to the present occasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/always-remember-to-bound-thy-thoughts-to-the-present-occasion/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [Music, when soft voices die, Vibrates in the memory; Odours, when sweet violets sicken, Live within the sense they quicken. Rose leaves, when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/music-when-soft-voices-die-vibrates-in-the-memory-odours-when-sweet/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Give thy thoughts no tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/give-thy-thoughts-no-tongue/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david/how-precious-also-are-thy-thoughts-unto-me-o-god-how-great-is-the-sum/) [David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david/) > [Turn thy thoughts now to the consideration of thy life, thy life as a child, as a youth, thy manhood, thy old age, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/turn-thy-thoughts-now-to-the-consideration-of-thy-life-thy-life-as-a/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Govern thy life and thy thoughts as if the whole world were to see the one, and read the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-fuller/govern-thy-life-and-thy-thoughts-as-if-the-whole-world-were-to-see/) [Thomas Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-fuller/) ## 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 Big heart quotes > [My mother helped me to get past that. She was always there for me, until she dies. I remember she told me once, about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/my-mother-helped-me-to-get-past-that-she-was-always-there-for-me/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [A lot of people say small guys can't get it done. But at the end of the day, it depends on how big your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavon-austin/a-lot-of-people-say-small-guys-can-t-get-it-done-but-at-the-end-of/) [Tavon Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavon-austin/) > [On election night 2000, I had never met then-Governor Bush, though I'd supported him for years. I believed he would be a strong, optimistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-perino/on-election-night-2000-i-had-never-met-then-governor-bush-though-i-d/) [Dana Perino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-perino/) > [It's not like we have a formula, but I think one of the reasons this show has survived is that it has a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-parker/it-s-not-like-we-have-a-formula-but-i-think-one-of-the-reasons-this/) [Trey Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-parker/) > [“Because I would rather have nothing and a big heart than everything and no heart at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/because-i-would-rather-have-nothing-and-a-big-heart-than-everything/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [I was just an ordinary player with a big heart and a fighting spirit to recommend me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-fallon/i-was-just-an-ordinary-player-with-a-big-heart-and-a-fighting-spirit/) Sean Fallon > [I want to run every race with a big heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/i-want-to-run-every-race-with-a-big-heart/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [What I enjoy is a collaboration. Working with other like-minded people. People who have brilliant minds and big hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-ovenden/what-i-enjoy-is-a-collaboration-working-with-other-like-minded-people/) [Julian Ovenden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-ovenden/) > [“I see you. I see your hurt and your loneliness. I see your pride, and the way it stops you from leaning on anyone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-watt/i-see-you-i-see-your-hurt-and-your-loneliness-i-see-your-pride-and/) [Erin Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-watt/) > [Life is a big game so you got to play it with a big heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-a-big-game-so-you-got-to-play-it-with-a-big-heart/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Big heart, wide as a watermelon, but wise as birth, there is so much abundance in the people I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/big-heart-wide-as-a-watermelon-but-wise-as-birth-there-is-so-much/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [Obviously, people in Texas have big hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/obviously-people-in-texas-have-big-hearts/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [You need a high degree of corruption or a very big heart to love absolutely everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/you-need-a-high-degree-of-corruption-or-a-very-big-heart-to-love/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [We have a big heart for Africa and also for just raising awareness about the water crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chyler-leigh/we-have-a-big-heart-for-africa-and-also-for-just-raising-awareness/) [Chyler Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chyler-leigh/) > [I focus to much on making others happy & don't focus enough on making me happy...I got a big heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-focus-to-much-on-making-others-happy-don-t-focus-enough-on-making/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 198 Big heart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-heart/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“you understood any world besides your own, you would understand your own much better.—When a heart is really alive, then it is able to think live things. 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