astonishment quotes

Dear Sir, your astonishment's odd: I am always about in the Quad. And that's why the tree Will continue to be Since observed by Yours faithfully,God. See Knox 476:22.

-Anonymous
c.1924  Reply to Ronald Knox's limerick. The limericks summarize Bishop George Berkeley's philosophy that everything is dependent at all times on the will of God.

We are survival machinesrobot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes. This is a truth which still fills me with astonishment.

- Richard Dawkins
  The Selfish Gene, ch.2.

The point is the seeingthe grace beyond recognition, the ways of the bird rising, unnamed, unknown, beyond the range of language, beyond its noun. Eyes open on growing, flying, happening, and go on opening. Manifold, the world dawns on unrecognizing, realizing eyes. Amazement is the thing. Not love, but the astonishment of loving.

- Alastair Reid
  Weathering,'Growing, Flying, Happening'.

Just a little more reverence, please, and not so much astonishment.

- Sir (Harold) MalcolmWatts Sargent
Attributed, admonishing a choir singing Handel's'For Unto Us a Child is Born'.