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Human heart Quote by Jonathan Carroll

“One of the most terrible losses man endures in his lifetime is not even noticed by most people, much less mourned. Which is astonishing, because what we lose is in many ways one of the essential qualities that sets us apart from other creatures. I'm talking about the loss of the sense of wonder…” quote by Jonathan Carroll
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““One of the most terrible losses man endures in his lifetime is not even noticed by most people, much less mourned. Which is astonishing, because what we lose is in many ways one of the essential qualities that sets us apart from other creatures. I'm talking about the loss of the sense of wonder that is such an integral part of our world when we are children. However, as we grow older, that sense of wonder shrinks from cosmic to microscopic by the time we are adults. Kids say "Wow!" all the time. Opening their mouths fully, their eyes light up with genuine awe and glee. The word emanates not so much from a voice box as from an astonished soul that has once again been shown that the world is full of amazing unexpected things. When was the last time you let fly a loud, truly heartfelt "WOW?" NOt recently I bet. Because generally speaking wonder belongs to kids, with the rare exception of falling madly in love with another person, which invariably leads to a rebirth of wonder. As adults, we are not supposed to say or feel Wow, or wonder, or even true surprise because those things make us sound goofy, ingenuous, and childlike. How can you run the world if you are in constant awe of it?... The human heart has a long memory though and remembers what it was like to live through days where it was constantly surprised and delighted by the world around it.””

Jonathan Carroll

About This Quote

The loss of childhood wonder, often unnoticed, diminishes our unique capacity for awe, which can be revived through love or conscious effort.

In simple terms: We lose wonder as we age, but can regain it.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate curiosity and awe like a child.

Themes

wonder childhood awe

Mood

nostalgic hopeful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • education
  • creative work
  • relationships

Key Concepts

growth curiosity memory

Questions to Reflect On

  • When did you last feel genuine awe?
  • How can you invite wonder into daily life?
A Different Perspective

Societal pressure discourages adult awe, making it seem childish.

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