*posts an insanely long (but very meaningful ... to me, anyway) series of quotes here*

In reading through the Town Square, I came across this excellent and very meaningful quote by Ruby Gamgee, and had to post it here:
" ... the more I see of my Savior and of the work that goes on in His church, the less I'm impressed with everything that goes on in the world."
Love that!

And recently, I saw this on Matette/StudyMate's Facebook sidebar:
"Joy can be real only if people look on their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness."
~Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy

A beloved quote by David Livingstone:
"I will place no value on anything I have or may possess except in relation to the kingdom of Christ."

Bella/Aitb had this insightful and fun quote up on FB awhile back:
""Never judge a book by its movie."

And from stargazer, although I forget where exactly this was:
"All astronomers are amateurs. When it comes to the heavens, there's only one professional."

And in a similar vein, from Les Misérables:
"[He] meditated in the presence of the great spectacle of the starry firmament...He contemplated the grandeur, and the presence of God...and, without trying to comprehend the incomprehensible, he saw it. He did not study God; he was dazzled by Him."
~referencing the Bishop of Digne

One I've up on the wall by my computer for years that I originally received from our kids' school during "Turn off the Tube week" (years ago):
"In the words of comedian Groucho Marx, "I find television very educational. Every time someone switches it on I go into another room and read a good book." Go thou and do likewise ... at least for a week."

Yet some more favourites:
"I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice? Only words, words; to be led out to battle against other words."
~C.S. Lewis, Till We Have Faces

"The value of myth is that it takes all the things you know and restores to them the rich significance which has been hidden by the veil of familiarity."
~CSL

"If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world."
~CSL

"I gave in and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England."
~CSL

"But courage, child: we are all between the paws of the true Aslan."
~Tirian to Jill The Last Battle

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."
~George Eliot

"When we see the purpose of the universe as God’s long-term glory—not our short-term happiness—we undergo a critical paradigm shift"
~Randy Alcorn

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
~Martin Luther King Jr.

I know this is rather long, but I love what Tolkien wrote in his essay "On Fairy-Stories":
"The Peculiar quality of the "joy" in successful Fantasy can thus be explained as a sudden glimpse of the underlying reality or truth. ... The gospels contain a fairy-story, or a story of a larger kind which embraces all the essence of fairy-stories. They contain many marvels—peculiarly artistic, beautiful, and moving: "mythical" in their perfect, self-contained significance; and among the marvels is the greatest and most complete conceivable eucatastrophe [Tolkien's own word for "the unexpected, happy ending"]. But this story has entered History and the primary world; the desire and aspiration has been raised to the fulfillment of Creation. The Birth of Christ is the eucatastrophe of Man's history. The Resurrection is th eucatastrophe of the story of the Incarnation. This story begins and ends in joy. It has pre-eminently the "inner consistency of reality". There is no tale ever told that men would rather find was true, and none which so many skeptical men have accepted as true on its own merits. For the Art of it has the supremely convincing tone of Primary Art, that is, of Creation. To reject it leads either to sadness or to wrath. ... The Christian joy, the Gloria, is of the same kind [of the Great Eucatastrophe]; but it is pre-eminently (infinitely, if our capacity were not finite) high and joyous. But this story [the story of Christ] is supreme; and it is true. Art has been verified. God is the Lord, of angels, and of men—and of elves. Legend and History have met and fused"
~J.R.R. Tolkien "On Fairy-Stories"

"I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."
~Martha Washington (1732 - 1802)

"You can choose to look the other way but you can never again say you did not know."
~William Wilberforce (1789)

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted".
~Aesop

"There is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still."
~Corrie ten boom

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened."
~Winston Churchill

I could go on and on, but finally:
"Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy."
~Albus Dumbledore The Goblet of Fire

So many of CSL's and Tolkien's writings are treasured, beloved, and oh-so-quotable, but I must needs stop ... for now.

Oh! I have so many favorite quotes.

"When in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout." - Edward Lear.

"Forget what you've heard about Jesus if it doesn't begin and end with love." - David Phelps.

"Being an author is like being in charge of your own personal insane asylum." - Graycie Harmon.

"With jaws of steel we face our fears
With eyes so bright they shed no tears
The night will end, the sun will rise
Our troubles fade when darkness dies"

- The Last of the Nephilim by Bryan Davis. That book is amazing!

"You know, there's nothing more pathetic than a flame-retarded dragon." - Devon in the Quest for Camelot movie.

On another forum that I joined last year, a member posted this funny definition of writer's block: When your characters go on strike because they don't like what you're putting them through.

Oh, and Libby, I love the quote from Despicable Me that you posted! That movie is awesome!

Douglas MacArthur "We are not retreating - we are advancing in another direction". Is that not the most optimistic spin on things you've ever heard?

Yes, to be sure! Another similar quote I like is this:

"But God overrules even failure! Thomas Edison, after 9000 attempts at making a battery, was asked about his failures. He replied, "These weren't failures; they were successful efforts to understand what we didn't know."

I say, well said!

Its better to have a wrong answer than no answer at all. It shows you at least tried--Me, referring to math homework.
And here's a funny quote I found in a writing article:

Occasionally, you will hear a little voice in your head that says 'I have written a book, I am a god'. IGNORE IT.

One of my favorite G.K. Chesterton quotes, that I don't see cited nearly often enough:

"For the circle is perfect and infinite in its nature, but it is fixed forever in its size; it can never be larger or smaller. But the cross, though it has at its heart a collision and a contradiction, can extend its four arms forever without altering its shape. Because it has a paradox in its center it can grow without changing. The circle returns upon itself and is bound. The cross opens its arms to the four winds; it is a signpost for free travellers." - from Orthodoxy

"I'm further, further from myself/ when I'm next to You/ when I run to You....."
-Pillar "Further From Myself"

"Father, this is Helen" - Paris
"Helen of Sparta?" - Priam
"No, Helen of Troy" - Paris

"She brought you something special when she came here, didn't she? That's what you hold onto. That's how you keep her alive."
-Mr. Aarons, "Bridge To Terabithia" (2007, movie)

The shadow proves the sunshine

Switchfoot, "The Shadow Proves the Sunshine"

"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens."
-Gimli, LOTR (FotR book)

Sorry...I have a lot of favorite quotes. Some of the quotes aren't exact, but I tried to make them as close as possible. Note: I'm not in any way trying to offend anyone with these quotes.

"Hey, look, I got every question right on the final and the only reason why Mr. Spengler failed me was because I didn't write out the solutions." -Sam Hall, The Day After Tomorrow

“I’m good with animals.”
“Yeah, so was Jonah!” –Frank and Joe Hardy, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries

“That's a good idea. Four unidentifiable high school students lost their lives early this morning when their toy rocket exploded.” –O’Dell, October Sky

“Smart kids give me a pain!” –Phineas Bogg, Voyagers

“I should've kicked her in the face! I should've scratched out her eyes!” –Laura Ingalls, Little House on the Prairie

“Wally, if your dumb brother tags along, I'm gonna - oh, good afternoon, Mrs. Cleaver. I was just telling Wallace how pleasant it would be for Theodore to accompany us to the movies.” –Eddie Haskell, Leave it to Beaver

“Heyyyy!” –the Fonz, Happy Days

“That's the thing about salted down possum; it's just as good the second day.”
–Jed Clampett, the Beverly Hillbillies

“Be careful with his heart. It's more fragile than you think.” –Haley James, One Tree Hill

“I know. You had it sorted.” –Edmund Pevensie, Prince Caspian

“We just want our brother back.” –Peter Pevensie, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

“Better a silly girl with a flower than a silly boy with a horse and a stick.”
“It’s called a lance. Hello?” –Jocelyn and Wat, A Knight’s Tale

“I have responsibilities and... I am a doctor now! I AM DOCTOR MOTT NOW!” –Dan Mott, Without a Paddle

“You talking to me? You talking to me? I don't see anyone else out here, so you must be talking to me.” –Alvin, Alvin and the Chipmunks: the Squeakquel

“You can't win. You know that, don't you? It doesn't matter if you whip us, you'll still be where you were before, at the bottom. And we'll still be the lucky ones at the top with all the breaks. It doesn't matter. Greasers will still be Greasers and Socs will still be Socs. It doesn't matter.” –Randy, The Outsiders

“Tell me, do you get a kick out of near death experiences?”
“No, I was fine, I had things well in hand.”
“Oh yes, I could see that as you were dangling over the boiling cauldron. No doubt lulling the ogres into a false sense of security.” –Char and Ella, Ella Enchanted

“Honey, what's the matter?”
“Your heart. I just wanted to see if it was still beating.” –Maggie and Nathan Andrews, The Christmas Shoes

“Do you love me?“
“No, but I think you're hot.” –Aquamarine and Raymond, Aquamarine

“I am a British citizen. I have nothing to fear…except bullets.” –Phileas Fogg, Around the World in 80 Days

“We're still falling! AHHHHHH!!!” –Trevor Anderson, Journey to the Center of the Earth

“Bad guy falls in p**p: Classic element of physical comedy. Now comes the part where we throw our heads back and laugh. Ready?”
“Ready! AHAHAHAHA!!!” –guides, George of the Jungle

“Listen. Can you hear it? The music. I can hear it everywhere. In the wind... in the air... in the light. It's all around us. All you have to do is open yourself up. All you have to do... is listen.” –August Rush, August Rush

“You soaked his underwear in meat. That is so wrong. Funny, but wrong.” –Tom Baker, Cheaper by the Dozen

“She’s probably never even seen a horse before.”
“Yes I have…on TV!” –Carrie, Flicka 2

“These dogs are my family. You can't just leave them out there.” –Jerry Shephard, Eight Below

“Why’d you lead me on, thinking you…”
“Well, you obviously didn’t need any help.” –Rachel and Sam, Beverly Hills Chihuahua

“You need a wax.”
“Excuse me?”
“I meant the car.” –Austin Ames and Sam Montgomery, A Cinderella Story

“Do me a favor: kick some Hawk butt.” –Adam Banks, The Mighty Ducks

“Good morning, Robert. I hope you had wonderful dreams.”
“I think I'm still in one.” –Giselle and Robert, Enchanted

“Hey, hey, Winnaker, Winnaker, do you want me to get you a skirt? I'll get you a skirt if you keep playing like a girl!” –Don Haskins, Glory Road

“If I'd wanted your help, mate, I would've asked for it.” –Jessica Harrison, The Man From Snowy River

"I ought to plug you two right now, but I make it a rule never to kill a man on Sunday."
"It's Wednesday." -Pecos Bill, Tall Tale

“Love happens when people forgive.” –Oceans Apart by Karen Kingsbury

"Life is too short for half-hearted connections and meaningless run-throughs."
–Take Two by Karen Kingsbury

“Sunshine is just beyond the clouds.” –Just Beyond the Clouds by Karen Kingsbury

WARNING: The following post is long and random, with multiple references to an obscure CD most people have never heard of! Continue at your own risk.

He found he could no longer recall whether people had candles in their heads or not. He knew that there was a world of difference between these two notions: one was sane and the other was not, but he could not for the life of him remember which was which. This was a little unsettling.

~Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell

"Why, if only we were all wiener dogs, our problems would be solved!"

"What?!"

~The Brave Little Toaster

"Everything looks good from here. Yes, this is a fertile land, and we will thrive. We will rule over this land, and we will call it .... This Land."

"I think we should call it your grave!"

"Ah, curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!"

"Hahaha. Mine is an evil laugh. Now die! Die!"

~Firefly

Then from some songs from the CD Ghosts and Spirits by Phil Woodward, based on The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

[about Hell]
"If you open your eyes you'll see it's Heaven
If you open your eyes
Sure it's always raining
And everyone's complaining
But some you win and some you lose
If you ever need a handful
Of something insubstantial
You can have anything you choose
It's not that wounds are healing
It's more that we've stopped feeling
'Cause pain and pleasure we've outgrown
No need to fear disasters
In a town where nothing matters
So come and make yourself at home."

~The Grey Town

"Forgive my disinterest in coming alive
I'll opt for my comforting grave
Clutching the darkness, I've always survived
I know it's not good but it's safe."

~Safety

"Can't you see that I'm only human?
Not a god or an angel, I'm just a man.
Can't you see that I'm only human?
Just freed from accident and fallacy.
Can't you see that I'm only human?
When I gave up myself, that's when it all began.
Can't you see that I'm only human?
Nothing more or less than all I'm meant to be."

~Bleeding Charity

"It started when the sun
Was dancing on the pines
It started when the junipers reached their full height
It started when each day
Could take my breath away
[...]
I remember when
The ravens and the wrens
Would dance and dive and dart
And make my head spin
No brush-stroke in the world
Could capture how they swirled."

~First Love

"Overcome us that overcome
We may be ourselves
Overrun us that overrun
We may share Your wealth
Destroy the thrones and altar-stones
We build to our own pride
Bend our backs and break our bones
That we may learn to fly."

~The Lizard and the Stallion

"I watched as the neighborhood children
Found in her the warmth that money never buys
When they cried, she rocked and gently stilled them
When they laughed, the twinkle came into her eyes.
On her watch, the bullies left their taunting
And the timid learned to make new friends with ease
When she sent them off, they went home wanting
To share this grace and love with their families.
Oh, how she weeded out
The lies that they'd been told
And warmed their hearts
Before they could grow cold."

~Saint Sarah

And finally, a quote from one of my own works -

"I don't have a problem; you have a problem. To be more blunt, you are a problem. If someone were to resolve them all, there wouldn't be much left of you at all."

I have so many favorite quotes ...

I really liked those! Here are a couple of mine. One is serious and the other is just funny.

...he [Feanor] seldom remembered now that the light within them [the Silmarils] was not his own

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion

You're a stalker with hooves

Percy Jackson, The Titan's Curse.

From Jane of Lantern Hill by L. M. Montgomery:

"Do you sense any magic about this, my Jane?"
"Do you?" challenged Jane.
Dad shook his head.
"Absolutely none. And, as magic is indispensable, no can do."
They drove away, leaving the man who owned the house wondering who them two lunatics were. What on earth was magic? He must see the carpenter who had built the house and find out why he hadn't put any in it.

And we'll do just as we want to, inside of decency. We'll be clean, but not too clean. We'll be lazy, but not too lazy...just do enough to keep three jumps ahead of the wolf. And we'll never have in our house that thing known as an intermittent alarm clock.

If anyone doesn't like the Bible, there's something wrong either with him or with the way he was introduced to it...The Bible is a wonderful book, my Jane. Full of corking good stories and the greatest poetry in the world. Full of the most amazingly human "human nature." Full of incredible, ageless wisdom and truth and beauty and common sense.

Dad, I forgot to tell you the house caught fire this afternoon.

From Emily of New Moon by the same:

"I see you have a cat."
"Wrong," Father Cassidy shook his head and groaned dismally. "A cat has me."

"Oh, I can never thank you enough!"
"That's true, so don't waste breath trying."

".....Peace, be still, peace be still, please be still and know that I am God, and know that I am God......."
-Rush Of Fools, "Peace be Still"