--- 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. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19a/john-muir-678_dancing_surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious_345200.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. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes- all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them.” quote by John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19a/john-muir-678_dancing_surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious_345200.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19a/john-muir-678_dancing_surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious_345200.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19a/john-muir-678_dancing_surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious_345200.png) > “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 microbes- all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them.” [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 living beings, from the largest mammals to the tiniest microbes, possess an inner spark of divinity that makes them inclined to enjoy existence. **In simple terms:** Every creature has a divine spark that craves joy. Key Takeaway Recognize and celebrate the playful spirit in all life. Themes nature joy interconnectedness spirituality Mood awe inspired reflective Type observational philosophical environmental When to use this quote - wildlife observation - conservation work - personal meditation - educational outreach Key Concepts biophilia intrinsic value playfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can we nurture a sense of wonder for even the smallest life forms? - What does “play” mean for different species? A Different Perspective The concept of divine radium is metaphorical and may not align with scientific views. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dancing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Elephants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elephants/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Playful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playful/) [Savages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/savages/) [Whales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whales/) ## Related quotes > [Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/surely-all-god-s-people-however-serious-or-savage-great-or-small-like-2/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [“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 > [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/) > [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/) > [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 > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## 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 Dancing quotes > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. 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First I show you but a quarter, Like the bow that guards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-with-borrow-d-silver-shine-what-you-see-is-none-of-mine-first-i/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [To chase the glowing hours with flying feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/to-chase-the-glowing-hours-with-flying-feet/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [I wasn’t like, boo hoo, Bin Laden’s dead, but I wasn’t jumping. America’s a very nationalistic country, and in episodes like that of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scahill/i-wasn-t-like-boo-hoo-bin-laden-s-dead-but-i-wasn-t-jumping-america-s/) [Jeremy Scahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scahill/) > [“...dancing with someone who is causing you pain is a bit like trying to smile while having a tooth extracted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapka-kassabova/dancing-with-someone-who-is-causing-you-pain-is-a-bit-like-trying-to/) [Kapka Kassabova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapka-kassabova/) > [I'm very smart when it comes to choosing dancers and trying to show the world that there's a whole lot of dancing going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-jamison/i-m-very-smart-when-it-comes-to-choosing-dancers-and-trying-to-show/) [Judith Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-jamison/) > [“What do you think of the ball?” her companion asked. “It is lovely,” Cinderella said. “What do you enjoy most? The dancing?” “The food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/what-do-you-think-of-the-ball-her-companion-asked-it-is-lovely/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [Do you know what it is sir? Do you know what the Dance Dance Revolution is? It's not an actual revolution, so you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-peters/do-you-know-what-it-is-sir-do-you-know-what-the-dance-dance/) [Russell Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-peters/) > [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. 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It was a natural progression to make it my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishaan-khatter/i-have-been-passionate-about-dancing-and-acting-as-long-as-i-i-can/) [Ishaan Khatter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishaan-khatter/) [Browse all 3,507 Dancing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. 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