---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even Grace still imagined there might be…"
description: "\"“Even Grace still imagined there might be words, the words that could reach Dora and that had so far, unaccountably, not been hit upon. Only Caro recog..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/shirley-hazzard-9123_divine-intervention_even-grace-still-imagined-there-might-be_991133.jpg"
---

#  Even Grace still imagined there might be words, the words…

![“Even Grace still imagined there might be words, the words that could reach Dora and that had so far, unaccountably, not been hit upon. Only Caro recognized that Dora's condition was exactly that: a condition, an irrational state requiring professional, or divine, intervention.” quote by Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/shirley-hazzard-9123_divine-intervention_even-grace-still-imagined-there-might-be_991133.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/shirley-hazzard-9123_divine-intervention_even-grace-still-imagined-there-might-be_991133.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/shirley-hazzard-9123_divine-intervention_even-grace-still-imagined-there-might-be_991133.jpg)

> ““Even Grace still imagined there might be words, the words that could reach Dora and that had so far, unaccountably, not been hit upon. Only Caro recognized that Dora's condition was exactly that: a condition, an irrational state requiring professional, or divine, intervention.””

[Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

## About This Quote

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

A character struggles to find language that can truly connect with someone whose mental state is irrational, suggesting that ordinary words may be insufficient without professional or spiritual help.

**In simple terms:** Finding words for a disordered mind may need expert or divine aid.

Key Takeaway

Seek deeper understanding or professional help.

Themes

communication mental health language empathy spirituality

Mood

reflective somber thoughtful

Type

literary psychological philosophical

When to use this quote

- therapy sessions
- family conversations
- writing for healing
- spiritual counseling

Key Concepts

psychology existentialism literary analysis

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we know when professional help is needed?
- What role does spirituality play in mental health?

A Different Perspective

Words alone may not bridge profound mental gaps without specialized insight.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Divine intervention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine-intervention/) [Dora Condition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dora-condition-2030423/) [Grace Imagined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace-imagined-2030425/) [Imagined Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagined-words-314650/) [Reach Dora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reach-dora-2030426/) [Recognized Dora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognized-dora-2030424/)

## Related quotes

> [“Grace had always imagined that she would feel some sense of warning, at least for a millisecond before her life was transformed. She fancied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kraus/grace-had-always-imagined-that-she-would-feel-some-sense-of-warning/)

[Susan Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kraus/)

> [Our memory fragments don't have any coherence until they're imagined in words. Time is a property of language, of syntax, and tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/our-memory-fragments-don-t-have-any-coherence-until-they-re-imagined/)

[Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/)

> [“As a part of the holy trinity, Jesus was regarded as divine, and in predominant Christian belief this divinity was not compatible with human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-stearns/as-a-part-of-the-holy-trinity-jesus-was-regarded-as-divine-and-in/)

[Peter Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-stearns/)

> [“Before you die, give some serious thought to vowing holy disobedience whenever necessary. Discerning and knowing why one would choose to disobey is by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karol-jackowski/before-you-die-give-some-serious-thought-to-vowing-holy-disobedience/)

[Karol Jackowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karol-jackowski/)

> [“Let them stone you with their words, thoughts and misperceptions that are based on false doctrines. Allow them to continue to believe that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulonda-faye/let-them-stone-you-with-their-words-thoughts-and-misperceptions-that/)

[Ulonda Faye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulonda-faye/)

> [The belief that rational and quantifiable disciplines such as science can be used to perfect human society is no less absurd than a belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/the-belief-that-rational-and-quantifiable-disciplines-such-as-science/)

[Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/)

> [“With God, there’s always an appointed time for things, and when you put Him first, trust in His timing, and keep the faith, miracles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/with-god-there-s-always-an-appointed-time-for-things-and-when-you-put/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [“I don’t share your luxury. I believe in karma. I make karma happen. I rain down karma on my enemies.” “We are the progeny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-d-boddy/i-don-t-share-your-luxury-i-believe-in-karma-i-make-karma-happen-i/)

[Todd D. Boddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-d-boddy/)

> [“You start to live when you commit your life to cause higher than yourself. You must learn to depend on divine power for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-giftyakita/you-start-to-live-when-you-commit-your-life-to-cause-higher-than/)

[Lailah GiftyAkita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-giftyakita/)

> [I have always had my doubts about any form of divine intervention in sports contests. The power of prayer may be remarkable in many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/i-have-always-had-my-doubts-about-any-form-of-divine-intervention-in/)

[Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/)

> [Talk about divine intervention. I can't even tell you how blessed I feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khandi-alexander/talk-about-divine-intervention-i-can-t-even-tell-you-how-blessed-i/)

[Khandi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khandi-alexander/)

> [“There is one question George is asked about life and art and which is more important, and George said art is more important because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-haring/there-is-one-question-george-is-asked-about-life-and-art-and-which-is/)

[Keith Haring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-haring/)

> [“Fret not for all of your trials and tribulations have not been in vain, you are one of the chosen! You are divinely guided!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-delores-burrell/fret-not-for-all-of-your-trials-and-tribulations-have-not-been-in/)

[Constance Delores Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-delores-burrell/)

> [“No. No!” he says. “I . . .” He looks wildly around the room. For inspiration? For divine intervention? I don’t know. “You can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/no-no-he-says-i-he-looks-wildly-around-the-room-for-inspiration-for/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [The acting thing is so beyond my control. Acting isn't mine. You're like a tiny piece in this big, corporate mechanism that needs chemistry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/the-acting-thing-is-so-beyond-my-control-acting-isn-t-mine-you-re/)

[Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/)

## More by Shirley Hazzard

> [It's nervous work. The state you need to write in is the state that others are paying large sums of money to get rid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/it-s-nervous-work-the-state-you-need-to-write-in-is-the-state-that/)

[Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

> [I wasn't convinced a shop girl would know the word 'Oedipal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/i-wasn-t-convinced-a-shop-girl-would-know-the-word-oedipal/)

[Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

> [Great literature is like moral leadership; everyone deplores the lack of it, but there is a tendency to prefer it from the safely dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/great-literature-is-like-moral-leadership-everyone-deplores-the-lack/)

[Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

> [When people say of their tragedies, 'I don't often think of it now,' what they mean is it has entered permanently into their thoughts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/when-people-say-of-their-tragedies-i-don-t-often-think-of-it-now-what/)

[Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

> [“But that's a way to go on loving--a place, or a person. To miss it. In fact, to go away, to put yourself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/but-that-s-a-way-to-go-on-loving-a-place-or-a-person-to-miss-it-in/)

[Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

> [“I see that you are highly defensive." . . . Caro said, "I withhold my analysis of your own attitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/i-see-that-you-are-highly-defensive-caro-said-i-withhold-my-analysis/)

[Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

> [“... although the sufferings of children are the worst, being inextinguishable--children themselves seldom have a proper sense of their own tragedy, discounting and keeping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/although-the-sufferings-of-children-are-the-worst-being/)

[Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

> [ “I said, "Some people do know more than others. That contributes to the impression that someone, somewhere,knows the whole thing." \[p. 38\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/i-said-some-people-do-know-more-than-others-that-contributes-to-the/)

[Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

> [“Dark had meant Dora, had meant words and events sordid with self. Struggling to the light from Dora's darkness, Caro had acquired conscience and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/dark-had-meant-dora-had-meant-words-and-events-sordid-with-self/)

[Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

> [Marriage is like democracy - it doesn't really work, but it's all we've been able to come up with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/marriage-is-like-democracy-it-doesn-t-really-work-but-it-s-all-we-ve/)

[Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

> [“Sometimes, as now, her heart twisted and broke under his determination to wound her. At others, she was almost convinced that she felt nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/sometimes-as-now-her-heart-twisted-and-broke-under-his-determination/)

[Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

> [“Chief Coordinator of DALTO – the Department of Aid to the Less technically Oriented, working to induce backwards nations to come forwards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/chief-coordinator-of-dalto-the-department-of-aid-to-the-less/)

[Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

> [“Occasion revived an illusion of discovery, as if one woke in a strange room to wonder afresh not only where but who one was;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/occasion-revived-an-illusion-of-discovery-as-if-one-woke-in-a-strange/)

[Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

> [When you realize someone is trying to hurt you, it hurts less." "Unless you love them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/when-you-realize-someone-is-trying-to-hurt-you-it-hurts-less-unless/)

[Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

> [Since the moment of the United Nations' inception, untold energies have been expended by governments not only toward the exclusion of persons of principle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/since-the-moment-of-the-united-nations-inception-untold-energies-have/)

[Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

[Explore all 75 Shirley Hazzard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/)

## More Divine intervention quotes

> [The acting thing is so beyond my control. Acting isn't mine. You're like a tiny piece in this big, corporate mechanism that needs chemistry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/the-acting-thing-is-so-beyond-my-control-acting-isn-t-mine-you-re/)

[Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/)

> [“No. No!” he says. “I . . .” He looks wildly around the room. For inspiration? For divine intervention? I don’t know. “You can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/no-no-he-says-i-he-looks-wildly-around-the-room-for-inspiration-for/)

[E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/)

> [“Fret not for all of your trials and tribulations have not been in vain, you are one of the chosen! You are divinely guided!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-delores-burrell/fret-not-for-all-of-your-trials-and-tribulations-have-not-been-in/)

[Constance Delores Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-delores-burrell/)

> [“There is one question George is asked about life and art and which is more important, and George said art is more important because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-haring/there-is-one-question-george-is-asked-about-life-and-art-and-which-is/)

[Keith Haring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-haring/)

> [Talk about divine intervention. I can't even tell you how blessed I feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khandi-alexander/talk-about-divine-intervention-i-can-t-even-tell-you-how-blessed-i/)

[Khandi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khandi-alexander/)

> [I have always had my doubts about any form of divine intervention in sports contests. The power of prayer may be remarkable in many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/i-have-always-had-my-doubts-about-any-form-of-divine-intervention-in/)

[Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/)

> [“You start to live when you commit your life to cause higher than yourself. You must learn to depend on divine power for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-giftyakita/you-start-to-live-when-you-commit-your-life-to-cause-higher-than/)

[Lailah GiftyAkita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-giftyakita/)

> [“I don’t share your luxury. I believe in karma. I make karma happen. I rain down karma on my enemies.” “We are the progeny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-d-boddy/i-don-t-share-your-luxury-i-believe-in-karma-i-make-karma-happen-i/)

[Todd D. Boddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-d-boddy/)

> [“With God, there’s always an appointed time for things, and when you put Him first, trust in His timing, and keep the faith, miracles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/with-god-there-s-always-an-appointed-time-for-things-and-when-you-put/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [The belief that rational and quantifiable disciplines such as science can be used to perfect human society is no less absurd than a belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/the-belief-that-rational-and-quantifiable-disciplines-such-as-science/)

[Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/)

> [“Let them stone you with their words, thoughts and misperceptions that are based on false doctrines. Allow them to continue to believe that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulonda-faye/let-them-stone-you-with-their-words-thoughts-and-misperceptions-that/)

[Ulonda Faye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulonda-faye/)

> [“Before you die, give some serious thought to vowing holy disobedience whenever necessary. Discerning and knowing why one would choose to disobey is by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karol-jackowski/before-you-die-give-some-serious-thought-to-vowing-holy-disobedience/)

[Karol Jackowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karol-jackowski/)

> [“As a part of the holy trinity, Jesus was regarded as divine, and in predominant Christian belief this divinity was not compatible with human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-stearns/as-a-part-of-the-holy-trinity-jesus-was-regarded-as-divine-and-in/)

[Peter Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-stearns/)

> [“God is our great helper,shelter, provider and protector.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/god-is-our-great-helper-shelter-provider-and-protector/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [I believe in divine intervention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-believe-in-divine-intervention/)

[LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/)

[Browse all 102 Divine intervention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine-intervention/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Even Grace still imagined there might be words, the words that could reach Dora and that had so far, unaccountably, not been hit upon. Only Caro recognized that Dora's condition was exactly that: a condition, an irrational state requiring professional, or divine, intervention.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Shirley Hazzard"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/even-grace-still-imagined-there-might-be-words-the-words-that-could/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Divine intervention"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/even-grace-still-imagined-there-might-be-words-the-words-that-could/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/shirley-hazzard-9123_divine-intervention_even-grace-still-imagined-there-might-be_991133.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/shirley-hazzard-9123_divine-intervention_even-grace-still-imagined-there-might-be_991133.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/shirley-hazzard-9123_divine-intervention_even-grace-still-imagined-there-might-be_991133.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Even Grace still imagined there might be words, the words that could reach Dora and that had so far…” — Shirley Hazzard",
                "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": "Shirley Hazzard",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Even Grace still imagined there might...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/even-grace-still-imagined-there-might-be-words-the-words-that-could/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/even-grace-still-imagined-there-might-be-words-the-words-that-could/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
