--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reason, alas, does not remove mountains…" description: "\"Reason, alas, does not remove mountains. It only tries to walk around them, and see what is on the other side.\" — George William Russell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/george-william-russell-18079_alas_reason-alas-does-not-remove-mountains-it_977858.jpg" --- # Reason, alas, does not remove mountains. It only tries to… ![“Reason, alas, does not remove mountains. It only tries to walk around them, and see what is on the other side.” quote by George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/george-william-russell-18079_alas_reason-alas-does-not-remove-mountains-it_977858.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/george-william-russell-18079_alas_reason-alas-does-not-remove-mountains-it_977858.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/george-william-russell-18079_alas_reason-alas-does-not-remove-mountains-it_977858.jpg) > “Reason, alas, does not remove mountains. It only tries to walk around them, and see what is on the other side.” [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reason can navigate around obstacles but cannot eliminate them; it reveals alternative paths. **In simple terms:** Reason finds ways around problems. Key Takeaway Use reason to explore options. Themes reason obstacles perspective problem solving philosophy Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - conflict resolution - strategic planning - personal growth Key Concepts critical thinking limitations adaptation Questions to Reflect On - What obstacles can reason not overcome? - When should intuition guide you? A Different Perspective Reason alone may not solve deep-rooted issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alas/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Mountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain/) [Mountains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountains/) [Mountains Tries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountains-tries-1921319/) [Move mountains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/move-mountains/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Alas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-alas-1921321/) [Remove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remove/) [Remove Mountains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remove-mountains-1291768/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Tries Walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tries-walk-1921320/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) ## Related quotes > [Energy, like the biblical grain of the mustard-seed, will remove mountains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/energy-like-the-biblical-grain-of-the-mustard-seed-will-remove/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Patience and Diligence, like faith, remove mountains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/patience-and-diligence-like-faith-remove-mountains/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [“the crystal air, with some of the efficacy of faith, seemed to remove the mountains almost to the sea, bringing them so near that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-henry/the-crystal-air-with-some-of-the-efficacy-of-faith-seemed-to-remove/) [O. Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-henry/) > [That's been one of my mantras - focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/that-s-been-one-of-my-mantras-focus-and-simplicity-simple-can-be/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [“Empowering Women 101: If a normal man wants you he will let you know. You won't have to guess. He will move mountains to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/empowering-women-101-if-a-normal-man-wants-you-he-will-let-you-know/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [They say that faith can move mountains, so can bulldozers, so can nuclear weapons. I'm not really sure if that's what faith is intended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/they-say-that-faith-can-move-mountains-so-can-bulldozers-so-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You are beautiful. Own it. Walk like your hips move mountains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-beautiful-own-it-walk-like-your-hips-move-mountains/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To rest in God's power when your own weaknesses seem to be screaming at you? That's grace! To be confident in who God is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-cooke/to-rest-in-god-s-power-when-your-own-weaknesses-seem-to-be-screaming/) [Graham Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-cooke/) > [“I don’t put up with the shit you’ve handed me the last week because you’re some fuckin’ piece I want to conquer. I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/i-don-t-put-up-with-the-shit-you-ve-handed-me-the-last-week-because/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [So long as one's just dreaming about what to do, one can soar like an eagle and move mountains, it seems, but as soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-turgenev/so-long-as-one-s-just-dreaming-about-what-to-do-one-can-soar-like-an/) [Ivan Turgenev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-turgenev/) > [“F.U.R FOCUS-URGENCY-RESPONSIBILITY--- As a team you can move mountains without any effort, simply because of our combined faith and commitment!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katlego-semusa/f-u-r-focus-urgency-responsibility-as-a-team-you-can-move-mountains/) [Katlego Semusa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katlego-semusa/) > [ “\[Love Wasn’t as They Said\] Love wasn’t as they said… It didn’t last forever as they claimed… It is fleeting moments only recognized By… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-yako/love-wasn-t-as-they-said-love-wasn-t-as-they-said-it-didn-t-last/) [Louis Yako](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-yako/) > [“One thing I’ve learned? When we offer up all the stuff in our life to God and ask Him to do some housecleaning from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joann-durgin/one-thing-i-ve-learned-when-we-offer-up-all-the-stuff-in-our-life-to/) [JoAnn Durgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joann-durgin/) > [“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-speak-in-the-tongues-of-men-or-of-angels-but-do-not-have-love-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Kings don’t move mountains as a favor to a friend,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/kings-don-t-move-mountains-as-a-favor-to-a-friend/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) ## More by George William Russell > [Seek on earth what you have found in heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/seek-on-earth-what-you-have-found-in-heaven/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) > [The world can only be free when men are content in themselves and each draws from his own fountain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/the-world-can-only-be-free-when-men-are-content-in-themselves-and/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) > [The victors in great wars have always been spiritually defeated by the conquered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/the-victors-in-great-wars-have-always-been-spiritually-defeated-by/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) > [We may fight against what is wrong, but if we allow ourselves to hate, that is to insure our spiritual defeat and our likeness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/we-may-fight-against-what-is-wrong-but-if-we-allow-ourselves-to-hate/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) > [We dwell in the house of the body, but its perfection and intricate life are the work of a wisdom which never relaxes dominion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/we-dwell-in-the-house-of-the-body-but-its-perfection-and-intricate/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) > [There is a law in human nature which draws us to like what we passionately condemn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/there-is-a-law-in-human-nature-which-draws-us-to-like-what-we/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) > [Forgive me, Spirit of my spirit, for this, that I have found it easier to read the mystery told in tears and understood Thee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/forgive-me-spirit-of-my-spirit-for-this-that-i-have-found-it-easier/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) > [Whiskey: a torchligh procession marching down your throat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/whiskey-a-torchligh-procession-marching-down-your-throat/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) > [We have the universe to roam in in imagination. It is our virtue to be infinitely varied. The worst tyranny is uniformity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/we-have-the-universe-to-roam-in-in-imagination-it-is-our-virtue-to-be/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) > [We are tired who follow after fantasy and truth that flies: You with only look and laughter stain our hearts with richest dyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/we-are-tired-who-follow-after-fantasy-and-truth-that-flies-you-with/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) > [When steam first began to pump and wheels go round at so many revolutions per minute, what are called business habits were intended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/when-steam-first-began-to-pump-and-wheels-go-round-at-so-many/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) > [People tell me that the countryside must always be stupid and backward, and I get angry, as if it were said that only townspeople…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/people-tell-me-that-the-countryside-must-always-be-stupid-and/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) > [I lay this down as a fundamental proposition, which I do not think will be denied, that whoever controls the taxation and trade policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/i-lay-this-down-as-a-fundamental-proposition-which-i-do-not-think/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) > [Our hearts were drunk with a beauty Our eyes could never see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/our-hearts-were-drunk-with-a-beauty-our-eyes-could-never-see/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) > [A literary movement: five or six people who live in the same town and hate each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-russell/a-literary-movement-five-or-six-people-who-live-in-the-same-town-and/) [George William Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) [Explore all 35 George William Russell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-russell/) ## More Alas quotes > [“Muchos de los ángeles de Dios no tienen alas...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/muchos-de-los-ngeles-de-dios-no-tienen-alas/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Time, time - that is our greatest master! Alas, like Ugolino, time devours its own children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-berlioz/time-time-that-is-our-greatest-master-alas-like-ugolino-time-devours/) [Hector Berlioz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-berlioz/) > [Removing prejudices is, alas! too often removing the boundary of a delightful near prospect in order to let in a shockingly extensive one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-fulke-greville/removing-prejudices-is-alas-too-often-removing-the-boundary-of-a/) [Sir Fulke Greville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-fulke-greville/) > [Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-pharcellus-church/yes-virginia-there-is-a-santa-claus-he-exists-as-certainly-as-love/) [Francis Pharcellus Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-pharcellus-church/) > [Alas, Postumus, the fleeting years slip by, nor will piety give any stay to wrinkles and pressing old age and untamable death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/alas-postumus-the-fleeting-years-slip-by-nor-will-piety-give-any-stay/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Sensible Catholics have for generations been ignoring the views on contraception held by reactionary old men in the Vatican, but alas, since it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/sensible-catholics-have-for-generations-been-ignoring-the-views-on/) [A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/) > [The flesh is sad, alas, and I have read all the books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-phane-mallarm/the-flesh-is-sad-alas-and-i-have-read-all-the-books/) [Stephane Mallarme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-phane-mallarm/) > [Alas! all music jars when the soul's out of tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/alas-all-music-jars-when-the-soul-s-out-of-tune/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [In spite of the honestest efforts to annihilate my I-ity, or merge it in what the world doubtless considers my better half, I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-welsh-carlyle/in-spite-of-the-honestest-efforts-to-annihilate-my-i-ity-or-merge-it/) [Jane Welsh Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-welsh-carlyle/) > [The dumpling is indeed of more ancient institution, and of foreign origin; but alas, what were those dumplings? Nothing but a few lentils sodden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/the-dumpling-is-indeed-of-more-ancient-institution-and-of-foreign/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [“World is so beautiful, but alas! There are so many assholes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/world-is-so-beautiful-but-alas-there-are-so-many-assholes/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Ideally a painter (and, generally, an artist) should not become conscious of his insights: without taking the detour through his reflective processes, and incomprehensibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/ideally-a-painter-and-generally-an-artist-should-not-become-conscious/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Alas! we makeA ladder of our thoughts, where angels step,But sleep ourselves at the foot: our high resolvesLook down upon our slumbering acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/alas-we-makea-ladder-of-our-thoughts-where-angels-step-but-sleep/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) [Browse all 453 Alas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Reason, alas, does not remove mountains. 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