quotations about miracles
Those who wish to seek out the cause of miracles and to understand the things of nature as philosophers, and not to stare at them in astonishment like fools, are soon considered heretical and impious, and proclaimed as such by those whom the mob adores as the interpreters of nature and the gods. For these men know that, once ignorance is put aside, that wonderment would be taken away, which is the only means by which their authority is preserved.
BARUCH SPINOZA
Ethics
As wonders, miracles are always astonishing, but as signs they are never wholly inexplicable.
KENNETH L. WOODWARD
The Book of Miracles
Miracles, when considered in a general, abstract manner--that is, when divested of all circumstances, and supposed to occur as disconnected facts, to stand alone in history, to have no explanations or reasons in preceding events, and no influence on those which follow--are indeed open to great objection, as wanton and useless violations of nature's order; and it is accordingly against miracles, considered in this naked, general form, that the arguments of infidelity are chiefly urged. But it is great disingenuity to class under this head the miracles of Christianity. They are palpably different. They do not stand alone in history, but are most intimately incorporated with it. They were demanded by the state of the world which preceded them, and they have left deep traces on all subsequent ages. In fact, the history of the whole civilized world, since their alleged occurrence, has been swayed and colored by them, and is wholly inexplicable without them.
WILLIAM E. CHANNING
Thoughts
We can become inspired to shape a higher, more ideal future, and when we do, miracles happen.
JAMES REDFIELD
The Tenth Insight: Holding the Vision
Some of the miracles do locally what God has already done universally: others do locally what he had not yet done, but will do. In that sense, and from our human point of view, some are reminders and others prophecies.
C. S. LEWIS
God in the Dock
Miracles don't happen in a vacuum. There needs to be an openness; a prayerful expectation, and an urgency compelling God from our hearts.
GEORGE GEIGER
Miracles For an Athiest
A peculiar feature of the Christian miracles which is constantly ignored by apologists is diabolism. The majority of the miracles ascribed to Jesus consist in the casting out of devils. When we read that "hath a devil" and "is mad" are used as synonymous, and find that the persons said to be "possessed" are also described as lunatic, or with the symptoms of epilepsy, or as suffering from dumbness, lameness and blindness, how can we avoid the suggestion that the New Testament simply reflects the common savage superstition that certain diseases are the work of evil spirits, to be warded off by prayer or other charms of presumed magical efficacy?
LUCIANUS
Progress, August 1886
A miracle is nothing more than dormant justice from another time arriving to compensate those it has cruelly abandoned.
MARK HELPRIN
Winter's Tale
For we cannot listen to those who maintain that the invisible God works no visible miracles; for even they believe that He made the world, which surely they will not deny to be visible. Whatever marvel happens in this world, it is certainly less marvelous than this whole world itself.
ST. AUGUSTINE
The City of God
A miracle is like an accident, and if the same accident keeps happening all the time, then somebody's making a point, aren't they?
KAREN HEULER
The Other Door
Believe in your heart that you're meant to live a life full of passion, purpose, magic and miracles.
ROY T. BENETT
The Light in the Heart
Growing up closes so many doors. The modern world doesn't allow for miracles, so we don't see them. It's a very precious gift, an open mind, but it's not passive. You've got to nurture it like a bed of roses; otherwise it will wither and die. Make sure you don't close off your mind to things you find strange. Sometimes they may be the only truth.
TIM LEBBON
Fears Unnamed
Miracles are like stakes supporting the young tree; when grown, trained, established, of what use are stakes or miracles?
ROBERT ASKWITH TAYLOR
The Bulwark, January 1874
Miracles are like jokes. They relieve our tension suddenly by setting us free from the chain of cause and effect.
GERALD BRANAN
attributed, Get Unstuck!
It would actually constitute more than a miracle, he realized. It would take divine intervention plus luck, plus some unknown element of cosmic wizardry.
DAVID BALDACCI
The Whole Truth
A private man has always the liberty (because thought is free) to believe or not believe in his heart those acts that have been given out for miracles, according as he shall see what benefits can accrue by men's belief, to those that pretend, or countenance them, and thereby conjecture whether they be miracles or lies.
THOMAS HOBBES
Leviathan
Men's thirst for the most amazing and indubitable wonders actually stems from a desire for a faith without shadows, for a crown without a cross.... A miracle is Christian only if it helps us to believe rather than relieves us of the necessity of faith.
LOUIS MONDEN
attributed, When You Need a Miracle
Miracles don't happen. You make them happen. They're not wishes or dreams or candles on a cake.
JULIE ANNE PETERS
Far from Xanadu
Miracles are like winning the lottery, they always happen to other people.
YUNGSI ERNEST KIYAH
To Immigrate or To Live Happily Ever After?
Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches talk about having evidence of Divine authority because they have miracles. Miracles in our time are like candles in the street at midday. We do not want miracles. They are to teach men how to find out truths themselves; and after they have learned this, they no more need them than a well man needs a staff, or a grown-up child needs a walking-stool.
HENRY WARD BEECHER
Sermons