---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Surely all God's people, however serious…"
description: "\"Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play.\" — John Muir"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/351/john-muir-678_gnats_surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious_2091728.png"
---

#  Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great…

![“Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play.” quote by John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/351/john-muir-678_gnats_surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious_2091728.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/351/john-muir-678_gnats_surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious_2091728.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/351/john-muir-678_gnats_surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious_2091728.png)

> “Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play.”

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

All people, regardless of status, share a love for play and recreation.

**In simple terms:** Everyone enjoys play.

Key Takeaway

Embrace playfulness in daily life.

Themes

play universality human nature joy diversity

Mood

joyful lighthearted

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

- family games
- team sports
- creative hobbies
- community events

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you incorporate play?
- What barriers exist?

A Different Perspective

Play may be limited by circumstances.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Gnats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gnats/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-people/) [Like Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-play/) [Microbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/microbes/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-savage-3011387/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Savages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savages/) [Serious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serious/) [Surely God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surely-god-290912/)

## Related quotes

> [Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious-or-savage-great-or-small-like/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [To most people a savage nation is wan that doesn't wear oncomf'rtable clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finley-peter-dunne/to-most-people-a-savage-nation-is-wan-that-doesn-t-wear-oncomf-rtable/)

[Finley Peter Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finley-peter-dunne/)

> [A lot of the most proper-acting people are the most savage in the bedroom!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busta-rhymes/a-lot-of-the-most-proper-acting-people-are-the-most-savage-in-the/)

[Busta Rhymes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busta-rhymes/)

> [Surely, God could have caused birds to fly with their bones made of solid gold, with their veins full of quicksilver, with their flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/surely-god-could-have-caused-birds-to-fly-with-their-bones-made-of/)

[Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/)

> [“...There was nothing one could do when love came. It was fast, and it was strong, and if it were not good, then surely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-alberto-urrea/there-was-nothing-one-could-do-when-love-came-it-was-fast-and-it-was/)

[Luis Alberto Urrea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-alberto-urrea/)

> [“If your conscience objects, surely God also objects since He is even greater.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hon/if-your-conscience-objects-surely-god-also-objects-since-he-is-even/)

[Henry Hon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hon/)

> [Surely if God had meant us to do yoga, he would have put our heads behind our knees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/surely-if-god-had-meant-us-to-do-yoga-he-would-have-put-our-heads/)

[Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/)

> [“If a book can save—redeem us from the mediocrity of the mundane—surely, there must be a God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chila-woychik/if-a-book-can-save-redeem-us-from-the-mediocrity-of-the-mundane/)

[Chila Woychik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chila-woychik/)

> [Now if there is any gift of the gods to men, it is reasonable that happiness should be god-given, and most surely god-given of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/now-if-there-is-any-gift-of-the-gods-to-men-it-is-reasonable-that/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [“When we meet someone with a deeper spiritual insight, we think God cares more for them than for us. Yet surely God has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-beevers/when-we-meet-someone-with-a-deeper-spiritual-insight-we-think-god/)

[John Beevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-beevers/)

> [Surely God would not have created such a being as man, with an ability to grasp the infinite, to exist only for a day!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/surely-god-would-not-have-created-such-a-being-as-man-with-an-ability/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [“If the eternal Son could become fully human without sin (Heb 4:15), then surely God can communicate his truth through thoroughly human ambassadors while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/if-the-eternal-son-could-become-fully-human-without-sin-heb-4-15-then/)

[Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/)

> [“Walk with me now into this very bright night, and revere with me in silence what must be God-given and what is surely God-taken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carew-papritz/walk-with-me-now-into-this-very-bright-night-and-revere-with-me-in/)

[Carew Papritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carew-papritz/)

> [Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah/surely-god-is-my-salvation-i-will-trust-and-not-be-afraid-the-lord/)

[Isaiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah/)

> [“Surely God loves to get out of church buildings and go visit people where they hunger for reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-morrison/surely-god-loves-to-get-out-of-church-buildings-and-go-visit-people/)

[Dylan Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-morrison/)

## More by John Muir

> [I will follow my instincts, be myself for good or ill, and see what will be the upshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/i-will-follow-my-instincts-be-myself-for-good-or-ill-and-see-what/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [During my first years in the Sierra, I was ever calling on everybody within reach to admire them, but I found no one half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/during-my-first-years-in-the-sierra-i-was-ever-calling-on-everybody/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [While cares will drop off like autumn leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/while-cares-will-drop-off-like-autumn-leaves/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [...full of God's thoughts, a place of peace and safety amid the most exalted grandeur and enthusiastic action, a new song, a place of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/full-of-god-s-thoughts-a-place-of-peace-and-safety-amid-the-most/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [“Here are the roots of all the life of the valleys, and here more simply than elsewhere is the eternal flux of nature manifested.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/here-are-the-roots-of-all-the-life-of-the-valleys-and-here-more/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [Spring work is going on with joyful enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/spring-work-is-going-on-with-joyful-enthusiasm/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [Our lives are rounded with a sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/our-lives-are-rounded-with-a-sleep/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/another-glorious-day-the-air-as-delicious-to-the-lungs-as-nectar-to/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [Long, blue, spiky-edged shadows crept out across the snow-fields, while a rosy glow, at first scarce discernible, gradually deepened and suffused every mountain-top, flushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/long-blue-spiky-edged-shadows-crept-out-across-the-snow-fields-while/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [“This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/this-grand-show-is-eternal-it-is-always-sunrise-somewhere-the-dew-is/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/when-one-tugs-at-a-single-thing-in-nature-he-finds-it-attached-to-the/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [In studying the fate of our forest king, we have thus far considered the action of purely natural causes only; but, unfortunately, man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/in-studying-the-fate-of-our-forest-king-we-have-thus-far-considered/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [The forests of America, however slighted by man, must have been a great delight to God; for they were the best he ever planted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/the-forests-of-america-however-slighted-by-man-must-have-been-a-great/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [Man seems to be the only animal whose food soils him, making necessary much washing and shield-like bibs and napkins. Moles living in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/man-seems-to-be-the-only-animal-whose-food-soils-him-making-necessary/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I'll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/as-long-as-i-live-i-ll-hear-waterfalls-and-birds-and-winds-sing-i-ll/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

[Explore all 409 John Muir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

## More Gnats quotes

> [Example is a dangerous lure: where the wasp got through the gnat sticks fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/example-is-a-dangerous-lure-where-the-wasp-got-through-the-gnat/)

[Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/)

> [I'm gonna say it one more time. We are Georgia Southern. Our colors are blue and white. We call ourselves the Bald Eagles. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erk-russell/i-m-gonna-say-it-one-more-time-we-are-georgia-southern-our-colors-are/)

[Erk Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erk-russell/)

> [You and I and everyone else have the attention span of gnats. And that means that saying or doing anything once simply doesn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/you-and-i-and-everyone-else-have-the-attention-span-of-gnats-and-that/)

[Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/)

> [Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious-or-savage-great-or-small-like/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [With the single exception of Park Lane, every north-south route in London slows traffic to the pace of a wounded gnat with pleurisy struggling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/with-the-single-exception-of-park-lane-every-north-south-route-in/)

[Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/)

> [Television is a triumph of equipment over people,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-allen/television-is-a-triumph-of-equipment-over-people/)

[Fred Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-allen/)

> [I think we have the attention span of a gnat. You know, with cell phones and Twitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daniels/i-think-we-have-the-attention-span-of-a-gnat-you-know-with-cell/)

[Jeff Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-daniels/)

> [By his machines man can dive and remain under water like a shark; can fly like a hawk in the air; can see atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/by-his-machines-man-can-dive-and-remain-under-water-like-a-shark-can/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [When the sun shines let foolish gnats make sport, But creep in crannies when he hides his beams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/when-the-sun-shines-let-foolish-gnats-make-sport-but-creep-in/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [There is a reference in Aristotle to a gnat produced by larvae engendered in the slime of vinegar. This must have been Drosophila.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-sturtevant/there-is-a-reference-in-aristotle-to-a-gnat-produced-by-larvae/)

[Alfred Sturtevant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-sturtevant/)

> [Linnæus, setting out for Lapland, surveys his "comb" and "spare shirt," "leathern breeches" and "gauze cap to keep off gnats," with as much complacency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/linn-us-setting-out-for-lapland-surveys-his-comb-and-spare-shirt/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Guitar playing, as currently understood, has more to do with sports than it does to do with music. It's an Olympic challenge type of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/guitar-playing-as-currently-understood-has-more-to-do-with-sports/)

[Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/)

> [“however, while the gnats were swarming like locusts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-lorson/however-while-the-gnats-were-swarming-like-locusts/)

[M.F. Lorson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-lorson/)

> [“Don’t you swat away my concerns like they’re gnats around your ears.” He got to his feet as well. “Don’t you dare make light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/don-t-you-swat-away-my-concerns-like-they-re-gnats-around-your-ears/)

[J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/)

> [If we may credit certain hints contained in the lives of the saints, love raises the spirit above the sphere of reverence and worship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coventry-patmore/if-we-may-credit-certain-hints-contained-in-the-lives-of-the-saints/)

[Coventry Patmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coventry-patmore/)

[Browse all 48 Gnats quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gnats/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Muir"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious-or-savage-great-or-small-like-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Gnats"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious-or-savage-great-or-small-like-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/351/john-muir-678_gnats_surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious_2091728.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/351/john-muir-678_gnats_surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious_2091728.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/351/john-muir-678_gnats_surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious_2091728.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play.” — John Muir",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "John Muir",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Surely all God's people, however serious...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious-or-savage-great-or-small-like-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious-or-savage-great-or-small-like-2/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
