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About this quote

What does it mean?
MacDonald asks a child where they originated, receiving a metaphysical answer about coming from the infinite into existence.
In plain terms
Where do babies come from? From everywhere into right now.
What can you take from it?
Life's origin is mysterious and connects us to the vast unknown.

Where it applies

  • explaining birth to children
  • philosophical wonder
  • existential inquiry

Putting it to work

  • child education
  • existential reflection
  • poetic metaphor

Questions to consider

  • What does it mean to come into existence?
  • Where do you come from fundamentally?

Another view

It offers a poetic answer rather than a scientific explanation of birth.

More from George MacDonald

  1. Alas! how easily things go wrong! A sigh too deep or a kiss too long, And then comes a mist and a weeping rain, And life is never the same again.

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  2. Where did you get your eyes so blue? Out of the skies as I came through.

    Permalink to quote #4
  3. I firmly believe people have hitherto been a great deal too much taken up about doctrine and far too little about practice. The word doctrine, as used in the B…

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