--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I understand right enough,” the stranger…" description: "\"“I understand right enough,” the stranger said slowly. “I just wanted to make sure you did. You had the greatest gift of all conferred upon you—the gif..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/philip-van-doren-stern-46357_greatest-gift_i-understand-right-enough-the-stranger-s_1002530.jpg" --- # I understand right enough,” the stranger said slowly. “I… ![“I understand right enough,” the stranger said slowly. “I just wanted to make sure you did. You had the greatest gift of all conferred upon you—the gift of life, of being a part of this world and taking a part in it. Yet you denied that gift.” As the stranger spoke, the church bell high up on the…” quote by Philip Van Doren Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/philip-van-doren-stern-46357_greatest-gift_i-understand-right-enough-the-stranger-s_1002530.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/philip-van-doren-stern-46357_greatest-gift_i-understand-right-enough-the-stranger-s_1002530.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/philip-van-doren-stern-46357_greatest-gift_i-understand-right-enough-the-stranger-s_1002530.jpg) > ““I understand right enough,” the stranger said slowly. “I just wanted to make sure you did. You had the greatest gift of all conferred upon you—the gift of life, of being a part of this world and taking a part in it. Yet you denied that gift.” As the stranger spoke, the church bell high up on the hill sounded, calling the townspeople to Christmas vespers. Then the downtown church bell started ringing.”” [Philip Van Doren Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-van-doren-stern/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The stranger reminds us that life itself is a gift, and denying its value is a moral failing; the church bells underscore communal ritual. **In simple terms:** Life is a precious gift we must cherish. Key Takeaway Recognize and honor the gift of existence. Themes gratitude existence purpose Mood reflective hopeful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - daily life - family gatherings - holiday celebrations - personal introspection Key Concepts humanism spiritual awareness ethical reflection Questions to Reflect On - Do you truly appreciate your own life? - How does ritual reinforce our sense of purpose? A Different Perspective People may overlook the everyday wonder of being alive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gift Of Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gift-of-life/) [Greatest gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-gift/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) ## Related quotes > [Love is that amazing gift you give to a stranger and the best reply you give to hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/love-is-that-amazing-gift-you-give-to-a-stranger-and-the-best-reply/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [“Wouldn’t do what?” George asked sullenly. “What you were thinking of doing.” “How do you know what I was thinking?” “Oh, we make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-van-doren-stern/wouldn-t-do-what-george-asked-sullenly-what-you-were-thinking-of/) [Philip Van Doren Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-van-doren-stern/) > [It's morning when I go to sleep In the distant dawn a church bell rings Another day is coming on A baby's born, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/it-s-morning-when-i-go-to-sleep-in-the-distant-dawn-a-church-bell/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [One of the beauties of working in radio is the way a whole setting can be richly evoked simply by the addition to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-blegvad/one-of-the-beauties-of-working-in-radio-is-the-way-a-whole-setting/) [Peter Blegvad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-blegvad/) > [“We did not oversleep at St. Nicholas. The church-bell began to ring at four-thirty in the morning, and from the length of time it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain-samuel-clemens/we-did-not-oversleep-at-st-nicholas-the-church-bell-began-to-ring-at/) Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens > [I'm constantly learning, and that is the greatest gift of life in my opinion - to always be learning and growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-chenoweth/i-m-constantly-learning-and-that-is-the-greatest-gift-of-life-in-my/) [Kristin Chenoweth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-chenoweth/) > [The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/the-greatest-gift-of-life-is-friendship-and-i-have-received-it/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [“The greatest gift in life is the gift of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yang-aka-private83/the-greatest-gift-in-life-is-the-gift-of-life/) [John Yang aka Private83](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yang-aka-private83/) > [“Never forget," a Stranger said to me once in the lobby of the Midland Hotel in Manchester, "that only dead fish swim with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/never-forget-a-stranger-said-to-me-once-in-the-lobby-of-the-midland/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [I don't feel it's my job anymore to be nice. In the beginning, if a stranger said, 'your movie was great', I thought we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlize-theron/i-don-t-feel-it-s-my-job-anymore-to-be-nice-in-the-beginning-if-a/) [Charlize Theron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlize-theron/) > [“Our heroes have arrived, then," the stranger said, his voice a soft, bubbly murmur. "Excuse me?" Poison queries. The odd creature put down his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-wooding/our-heroes-have-arrived-then-the-stranger-said-his-voice-a-soft/) [Chris Wooding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-wooding/) > [“He greeted me in his usual attire - pajama pants. "Hey stranger!" he said, hugging me for a few long seconds. "I've already set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inna-swinton/he-greeted-me-in-his-usual-attire-pajama-pants-hey-stranger-he-said/) Inna Swinton > [“Look around you,” the stranger said. “Can’t you see that we are living amongst the ruins of our civilisation?” The words seemed to chime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-samuels/look-around-you-the-stranger-said-can-t-you-see-that-we-are-living/) [Mark Samuels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-samuels/) > [“The words kept landing like punches, dazing Adam, sapping his resistance, leaving him shaken and confused and ready to take a standing eight count.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/the-words-kept-landing-like-punches-dazing-adam-sapping-his/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [She said, I've never kissed a stranger. I said, I've never kissed a angel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-cab/she-said-i-ve-never-kissed-a-stranger-i-said-i-ve-never-kissed-a-angel/) Cris Cab ## More by Philip Van Doren Stern > [“He described the theme in this way: “It’s a Wonderful Life sums up my philosophy of film making. First, to exalt the worth of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-van-doren-stern/he-described-the-theme-in-this-way-it-s-a-wonderful-life-sums-up-my/) [Philip Van Doren Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-van-doren-stern/) > [“Jimmy Stewart wrote to my father on December 31, 1946, “More important than anything, thank you for giving us that idea, which I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-van-doren-stern/jimmy-stewart-wrote-to-my-father-on-december-31-1946-more-important/) [Philip Van Doren Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-van-doren-stern/) > [“In the early summer of 1846 he moved his family to a cottage in Fordham, which was then far out in the country. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-van-doren-stern/in-the-early-summer-of-1846-he-moved-his-family-to-a-cottage-in/) [Philip Van Doren Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-van-doren-stern/) > [“I want to live again. I want to live again. I want to live again. Please God, let me live again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-van-doren-stern/i-want-to-live-again-i-want-to-live-again-i-want-to-live-again-please/) [Philip Van Doren Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-van-doren-stern/) > [“My father, Philip Van Doren Stern, was shaving on Saturday morning, February 12, 1938, while he explored the idea for the story The Greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-van-doren-stern/my-father-philip-van-doren-stern-was-shaving-on-saturday-morning/) [Philip Van Doren Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-van-doren-stern/) > [“By this time, I had become fond of the story that nobody wanted. I revised it again and had 200 twenty-four-page pamphlets printed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-van-doren-stern/by-this-time-i-had-become-fond-of-the-story-that-nobody-wanted-i/) [Philip Van Doren Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-van-doren-stern/) > [“Wouldn’t do what?” George asked sullenly. “What you were thinking of doing.” “How do you know what I was thinking?” “Oh, we make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-van-doren-stern/wouldn-t-do-what-george-asked-sullenly-what-you-were-thinking-of/) [Philip Van Doren Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-van-doren-stern/) [Explore all 8 Philip Van Doren Stern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-van-doren-stern/) ## More Greatest gift quotes > [The greatest gift you can give to those around you is honesty. Sometimes honest words may sting the heart, but dishonesty pierces deep into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-greatest-gift-you-can-give-to-those-around-you-is-honesty/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [BLOOD IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN WATER. NEVER ABANDON YOUR FAMILY, BECAUSE IF ONE DAY THE WORLD TURN ITS BACK ON YOU, THE ONLY THING…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-voice/blood-is-always-better-than-water-never-abandon-your-family-because/) NO VOICE > [“The greatest gift you can bestow upon your children is your time and undivided attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brozina/the-greatest-gift-you-can-bestow-upon-your-children-is-your-time-and/) Jim Brozina > [My relationship with my parents is among the greatest gifts of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-castellani/my-relationship-with-my-parents-is-among-the-greatest-gifts-of-my-life/) [Christopher Castellani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-castellani/) > [The least grace is a better security for heaven than the greatest gifts or privileges whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/the-least-grace-is-a-better-security-for-heaven-than-the-greatest/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [“I often think that the ability to earn a living by doing the thing one loves must be one of life's greatest gifts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/i-often-think-that-the-ability-to-earn-a-living-by-doing-the-thing/) [Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [So when it comes don't push it away. One day you will find it is the greatest gift and I hope you don't take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-green/so-when-it-comes-don-t-push-it-away-one-day-you-will-find-it-is-the/) [Vivian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-green/) > [I think that's one of the greatest gifts that I have: that I can get someone to open up, and all you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/i-think-that-s-one-of-the-greatest-gifts-that-i-have-that-i-can-get/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [It's one thing believing in yourself, it's another thing having other people believe in you, and that is the greatest gift, honestly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-magnussen/it-s-one-thing-believing-in-yourself-it-s-another-thing-having-other/) [Billy Magnussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-magnussen/) > [knowledge of our own mortality is the greatest gift God ever gives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/knowledge-of-our-own-mortality-is-the-greatest-gift-god-ever-gives-us/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“It is not holiness, but arrogance displayed to take away the greatest gift—free will— bestowed by God from the beginning of time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullia-d-aragona/it-is-not-holiness-but-arrogance-displayed-to-take-away-the-greatest/) Tullia d'Aragona > [“The greatest gift you can open is your heart to someone in need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/the-greatest-gift-you-can-open-is-your-heart-to-someone-in-need/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [The greatest gift a parent can give a child is unconditional love. As a child wanders and strays, finding his bearings, he needs a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-greatest-gift-a-parent-can-give-a-child-is-unconditional-love-as/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [One of the best things you can do in life is to embrace who you are. Once you do that NOTHING can stop you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-best-things-you-can-do-in-life-is-to-embrace-who-you-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The greatest gift you can ever give to yourself is 'Loving yourself the way you are'. Its a gift from you to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collins-hasty/the-greatest-gift-you-can-ever-give-to-yourself-is-loving-yourself/) [Collins Hasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collins-hasty/) [Browse all 722 Greatest gift quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-gift/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I understand right enough,” the stranger said slowly. “I just wanted to make sure you did. You had the greatest gift of all conferred upon you—the gift of life, of being a part of this world and taking a part in it. Yet you denied that gift.” As the stranger spoke, the church bell high up on the hill sounded, calling the townspeople to Christmas vespers. 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