What Lewis Carroll’s Best Quotes Teach Us Today

Lewis Carroll’s beloved classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland would likely not still resonate with children and adults today—150 years after it was published—if it didn’t impart some truly ageless wisdom. It was perhaps his uncomfortable shyness and embarrassing stammer that caused Carroll to be so introspective and perceptive. The son of a minister, Carroll was also spiritual; he studied for the priesthood and reached deacon status. Lewis Carroll is actually his pen name, which he chose from the letters of his real name, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. He was born on January 27, 1832, the oldest son of eleven children. So, in honor of his 183^rd birthday, we have compiled some of Carroll’s most memorable and instructive quotes and categorized them for you. His timeless wisdom covered everything from relationships to the gift of learning.

Quotes on Relationships

“One of the secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others.”

“Oh, ’tis love, ’tis love that makes the world go round.”

“Why is it that people with the most narrow of minds seem to have the widest of mouths?”

 

Quotes on Self-Reflection

“Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle.”

“I can’t go back to yesterday – because I was a different person then.”

 

Quotes on Life’s Journey

“Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop.”

“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.”

 

Quotes on Human Potential

“If you limit your actions in life to things that nobody can possibly find fault with, you will not do much!”

“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

 

Quotes on Learning

“Everything’s got a moral, if only you can find it.”

“When you are describing, a shape, or sound, or tint; don’t state the matter plainly, but put it in a hint; and learn to look at all things, with a sort of mental squint.”

“But, I nearly forgot, you must close your eyes otherwise you won’t see anything.”

 

Which is your favorite quote? Tell us in the comments.

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Image Credit – Jaÿa / CC by 2.0