Human beings look separate because you see them walking about separately. But then we are so made that we can see only the present moment. If we could see the past, then of course it would look different. For there was a time when every man was part of his mother, and (earlier still) part of his father as well, and when they were part of his grandparents. If you could see humanity spread out in time, as God sees it, it would look like one single growing thing--rather like a very complicated tree. Every individual would appear connected with every other.

Music. A meaningless acceleration in the rhythm of celestial experience.

The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.

Those who are enjoying something, or suffering something, together, are companions. Those who enjoy or suffer one another, are not.

I have been feeling very much lately that cheerful insecurity is what our Lord asks of us.

The proper aim of giving is to put the recipient in a state where he no longer needs our gift.

Whatever he says, let his inner resolution be not to bear whatever comes to him, but to bear it 'for a reasonable period'--and let the reasonable period be shorter than the trial is likely to last. It need not be much shorter; in attacks on patience, chastity, and fortitude, the fun is to make the man yield just when (had he but known it) relief was almost in sight.