--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are accustomed to believe that our…" description: "\"“We are accustomed to believe that our world was created by God speaking the Word; but I ask, may it not rather be that he wrote it, wrote a Word so lo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/j-m-coetzee-2457_god-speaking_we-are-accustomed-to-believe-that-our-wo_278482.jpg" --- # We are accustomed to believe that our world was created by… ![“We are accustomed to believe that our world was created by God speaking the Word; but I ask, may it not rather be that he wrote it, wrote a Word so long we have yet to come to the end of it? May it not be that God continually writes the world, the world and all that is in it?” quote by J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/j-m-coetzee-2457_god-speaking_we-are-accustomed-to-believe-that-our-wo_278482.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/j-m-coetzee-2457_god-speaking_we-are-accustomed-to-believe-that-our-wo_278482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d4/j-m-coetzee-2457_god-speaking_we-are-accustomed-to-believe-that-our-wo_278482.jpg) > ““We are accustomed to believe that our world was created by God speaking the Word; but I ask, may it not rather be that he wrote it, wrote a Word so long we have yet to come to the end of it? May it not be that God continually writes the world, the world and all that is in it?”” [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that reality may be an ongoing, unfinished divine narrative rather than a finished script. **In simple terms:** God may be constantly writing the world. Key Takeaway Consider life as an evolving story. Themes creation divine mystery continuity Mood reflective curious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - reading literature - spiritual contemplation - creative writing Key Concepts theology infinite narrative Questions to Reflect On - How does seeing life as a story affect your choices? - Do you feel a role in the ongoing narrative? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex cosmology. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Created By God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/created-by-god/) [God speaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-speaking/) ## Related quotes > [There's a certain grain of stupidity that the writer of fiction can hardly do without, and this is the quality of having to stare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/there-s-a-certain-grain-of-stupidity-that-the-writer-of-fiction-can/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [Sacred scripture wishes simply to declare that the world was created by God, and in order to teach this truth it expressed itself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/sacred-scripture-wishes-simply-to-declare-that-the-world-was-created/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [“(was it because the whole world went online – is that why we never wrote another word?).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvette-walker/was-it-because-the-whole-world-went-online-is-that-why-we-never-wrote/) [Yvette Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvette-walker/) > [I wrote about four novels before I wrote a word of journalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-prose/i-wrote-about-four-novels-before-i-wrote-a-word-of-journalism/) [Francine Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-prose/) > [I wrote the word debauchery, but when I re-read it, I thought I had written douchebaggery. Both words would work...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wrote-the-word-debauchery-but-when-i-re-read-it-i-thought-i-had/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe God wrote the Word in your essence. That's the genius of my Father. You are born knowing right from wrong. You don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-griffin/i-believe-god-wrote-the-word-in-your-essence-that-s-the-genius-of-my/) [Eddie Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-griffin/) > [“It was funny about writing. It was like flying or driving or playing an instrument. When you were doing it like you were supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-niven/it-was-funny-about-writing-it-was-like-flying-or-driving-or-playing/) [Jennifer Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-niven/) > [“I feel like shredded paper thrown to the wind, each poet took a piece of me and wrote a word or phrase...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-alexandre-ribeiro-branco/i-feel-like-shredded-paper-thrown-to-the-wind-each-poet-took-a-piece/) [Luis Alexandre Ribeiro Branco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-alexandre-ribeiro-branco/) > [“how can you talk about the commands of God so continually with your children while walking along the road if you can’t recite their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-m-davis/how-can-you-talk-about-the-commands-of-god-so-continually-with-your/) [Andrew M. Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-m-davis/) > [The womb is like an altar, it's the place where God continually comes into the world and does what only God can do...create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/the-womb-is-like-an-altar-it-s-the-place-where-god-continually-comes/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Live a life of prayer, giving glory to God and continually listening for His guidance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-neal/live-a-life-of-prayer-giving-glory-to-god-and-continually-listening/) [Mary C. Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-neal/) > [As God is continually being marginalized and dismissed in the culture, you will continue to see evil proliferate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/as-god-is-continually-being-marginalized-and-dismissed-in-the-culture/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [ “\[Jesus\] not only kept Himself from engaging in evil, He also continually acted in ways that honored and glorified god. He not only continually… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/jesus-not-only-kept-himself-from-engaging-in-evil-he-also-continually/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [In order to form a habit of conversing with GOD continually, and referring all we do to Him, we must at first apply to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/in-order-to-form-a-habit-of-conversing-with-god-continually-and/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [“Many people ask: "Why does a God of love allow bad things to happen?" Few people think to ask, "Why does God continually give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-brammer/many-people-ask-why-does-a-god-of-love-allow-bad-things-to-happen-few/) Deb Brammer ## More by J.M. Coetzee > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“I truly believe I am not afraid of death. What I shrink from, I believe, is the shame of dying as stupid and befuddled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-truly-believe-i-am-not-afraid-of-death-what-i-shrink-from-i-believe/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Technically he is old enough to be her father; but then, technically one can be a father at twelve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/technically-he-is-old-enough-to-be-her-father-but-then-technically/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“I remember asking John, after Dusklands, what new project he had on the go. His answer was vague. 'There is always something or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-remember-asking-john-after-dusklands-what-new-project-he-had-on-the/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“The truth is, he tired of criticism, tired of prose measured by the yard." --Disgrace”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/the-truth-is-he-tired-of-criticism-tired-of-prose-measured-by-the/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Since I was in flight from religion, I assumed that my classmates had to be in flight from religion too, albeit in a quieter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/since-i-was-in-flight-from-religion-i-assumed-that-my-classmates-had/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Lucy was frightened, frightened near to death. Her voice choked, she could not breath, her limbs went numb. "This is not happening", she said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/lucy-was-frightened-frightened-near-to-death-her-voice-choked-she/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“It occurs to me that we crush insects beneath our feet, miracles of creation too, beetles, worms, cockroaches, ants, in their various ways.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/it-occurs-to-me-that-we-crush-insects-beneath-our-feet-miracles-of/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“He sits with the pen in his hand, holding himself back from a descent into representations that have no place in the world, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/he-sits-with-the-pen-in-his-hand-holding-himself-back-from-a-descent/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Do you remember Vlek, who was such a good sheepdog that she and Jakob alone could drive a whole flock past you at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/do-you-remember-vlek-who-was-such-a-good-sheepdog-that-she-and-jakob/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“...from the oppression of such freedom who would not welcome the liberation of confinement?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/from-the-oppression-of-such-freedom-who-would-not-welcome-the/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“If he has a last thought, if there is time for a last thought, it will simply be, So this is what a last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/if-he-has-a-last-thought-if-there-is-time-for-a-last-thought-it-will/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“At what age , he wonders, did Origen castrate himself? Not the most graceful solution, but then ageing is not a graceful bussines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/at-what-age-he-wonders-did-origen-castrate-himself-not-the-most/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“...he seems to be on the brink of one of his bad spells again, one of the fits of lugubrious self-pity that turn into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/he-seems-to-be-on-the-brink-of-one-of-his-bad-spells-again-one-of-the/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“I have lived through an eventful year, yet understand no more of it than a babe in arms. Of all the people of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-have-lived-through-an-eventful-year-yet-understand-no-more-of-it/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) [Explore all 122 J.M. Coetzee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) ## More God speaking quotes > [“The whole Bible supports the idea. God is speaking. Not God spoke, but God is speaking. He is by His nature continuously articulate. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/the-whole-bible-supports-the-idea-god-is-speaking-not-god-spoke-but/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [“As it is written, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-houge/as-it-is-written-be-diligent-to-present-yourself-approved-to-god-a/) [Adam Houge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-houge/) > [“Speak God’s Mind Hear, for I will speak excellent and princely things; and the opening of my lips shall be for right things. PROVERBS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/speak-god-s-mind-hear-for-i-will-speak-excellent-and-princely-things/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Whenever there is stillness there is the still small voice, God's speaking from the whirlwind, nature's old song, and dance...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/whenever-there-is-stillness-there-is-the-still-small-voice-god-s/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I want God to be speaking louder than the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-daigle/i-want-god-to-be-speaking-louder-than-the-music/) [Lauren Daigle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-daigle/) > [“Sometimes when I open my Bible to read, a verse leaps off the page and I know God is speaking to me. Sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-graham-lotz/sometimes-when-i-open-my-bible-to-read-a-verse-leaps-off-the-page-and/) [Anne Graham Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-graham-lotz/) > [Before you speak, it is necessary for you to listen, for God speaks in the silence of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/before-you-speak-it-is-necessary-for-you-to-listen-for-god-speaks-in/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [“We believe that if the Bible is God speaking, then the most important posture of the Christian before the Bible is to listen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tremper-longman-iii/we-believe-that-if-the-bible-is-god-speaking-then-the-most-important/) [Tremper Longman III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tremper-longman-iii/) > [“People are meant to live in an ongoing conversation with God, speaking and being spoken to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/people-are-meant-to-live-in-an-ongoing-conversation-with-god-speaking/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [God’s Word does not merely impart information; it actually creates life. It’s not only descriptive; it’s effective too, God speaking is God acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/god-s-word-does-not-merely-impart-information-it-actually-creates/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [“With this context, there are a few things we should notice right away. First, God is speaking to the Israelite nation of Judah here.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-j-bargerhuff/with-this-context-there-are-a-few-things-we-should-notice-right-away/) [Eric J. Bargerhuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-j-bargerhuff/) > [“If God should really speak to man, man could still never know that it was God speaking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/if-god-should-really-speak-to-man-man-could-still-never-know-that-it/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [“I am sure your piety does you great credit, Margaret. But certainly, if God is speaking to the king, then He has not chosen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/i-am-sure-your-piety-does-you-great-credit-margaret-but-certainly-if/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [Hello God, if we are still on speaking terms, can you help me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/hello-god-if-we-are-still-on-speaking-terms-can-you-help-me/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [“To paraphrase Muggeridge: Everything is a parable that God is speaking to us, the art of life is to get the message.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-elijiah-branch/to-paraphrase-muggeridge-everything-is-a-parable-that-god-is-speaking/) Chester Elijiah Branch [Browse all 58 God speaking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-speaking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We are accustomed to believe that our world was created by God speaking the Word; but I ask, may it not rather be that he wrote it, wrote a Word so long we have yet to come to the end of it? 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