Born under the name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson but to avid readers, his publishings are under the pen name Lewis Carroll. Mr. Lewis Carroll has a unique writing style unlike any other. From children’s fiction to nonsensical works, he’s dabbled in things out of the norm.
Along with his love of writing, Carroll was interested in photography, inventing, Anglican Christianity, and math. In fact, he spent a good deal of time worshipping at the Christ Church of Oxford. This place was also where Lewis attended school and in which he taught.
During his later years, Lewis Carroll would face accusations from Alice and Henry Liddell. Their claim was that they were the inspiration behind “Alice in Wonderland” Yet, despite the rumors, a memorial stands in his honor at the Poet’s Corner of Westminster Abbey. You can buy a copy of the famous book here.
To give you more insight into his life, we’ve pulled together the best assortment of his quotes. And so many great ones – enjoy!
Lewis Carroll’s Best Quotes
1. “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” — Lewis Carroll
2. “Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop.” — Lewis Carroll
3. “And thus they give the time, that Nature meant For peaceful sleep and meditative snores, To ceaseless din and mindless merriment And a waste of shoes and floors.” — Lewis Carroll
4. “It’s No use going back to yesterday because I was a different person then.” — Lewis Carroll
5. “Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle.” — Lewis Carroll
6. “Take care of the sense and the sounds will take care of themselves.” — Lewis Carroll
7. “She generally gave herself very good advice, — though she very seldom followed it.” — Lewis Carroll
8. “If everybody minded their own business, the world would go around a great deal faster than it does.” — Lewis Carroll
9. “Oh, ’tis love, ’tis love that makes the world go round” — Lewis Carroll
10. “Begin at the beginning,” the King said, very gravely, “and go on till you come to the end: then stop.” — Lewis Carroll
11. “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” — Lewis Carroll
12. “Be sure the safest rule is that we should not dare to live in any scene in which we dare not die. But, once realize what the true object is in life — that it is not pleasure, not knowledge, not even fame itself, ‘that last infirmity of noble minds’ — but that it is the development of character, the rising to a higher, nobler, purer standard, the building-up of the perfect Man — and then, so long as we feel that this is going on, and will (we trust) go on forevermore, death has For us No terror; it is not a shadow, but a light; not an end, but a beginning!” — Lewis Carroll
13. “One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do For others.” — Lewis Carroll
14. “While the laughter of joy is in full harmony with our deeper life, the laughter of amusement should be kept apart from it. The danger is too great of thus learning to look at solemn things in a spirit of mockery, and to seek in them opportunities For exercising wit.” — Lewis Carroll
15. “I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.” — Lewis Carroll
16. “I’d give all the wealth that years have piled, The slow result of life’s decay, to be once more a little child For one bright summer day.” —Lewis Carroll
17. “Courtesy while you’re thinking what to say. It saves time.” — Lewis Carroll
18. “Why it’s simply impassible! Alice: Why, don’t you mean impossible? Door: No, I do mean impassible. (chuckling to himself) Nothing’s impossible!” — Lewis Carroll
19. “When you are describing, a shape, r 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.” — Lewis Carroll
20. “We called him Tortoise because he taught us.” — Lewis Carroll
21. “My dear, here we must run as fast as we can, just to stay in place. And if you wish to go anywhere you must run twice as fast as that.” — Lewis Carroll
22. “Better say nothing at all. Language is worth a thousand pounds a word.” — Lewis Carroll
23. “The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday – but never jam today.” — Lewis Carroll
24. “Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.” — Lewis Carroll
25. “In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make.” — Lewis Carroll
26. “Which form of proverb do you prefer Better late than never, or Better never than late ?” — Lewis Carroll
27. “The time has come,” the walrus said, “to talk of many things: Of shoes and ships – and sealing wax – of cabbages and kings.” — Lewis Carroll
28. “All too soon will Childhood gay realize Life’s sober sadness. Let’s be merry while we may, Innocent and happy Fay! Elves were made For gladness!” — Lewis Carroll
29.”There comes a pause, For human strength will not endure dancing without cessation; and everyone must reach the point at length of absolute prostration.” — Lewis Carroll
30. “How puzzling all these changes are! I’m never sure what I’m going to be, from one minute to another.” — Lewis Carroll
31. “And as to being in a fright, Allow me to remark That Ghosts have just as good a right every way, to fear the light, As Men to fear the dark.” — Lewis Carroll
32. “Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction.” — Lewis Carroll
33. “Speak in French when you can’t think of the English For a thing– turn your toes out when you walk — And remember who you are!” — Lewis Carroll
34. “You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.” — Lewis Carroll
35. “Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to stay in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!” — Lewis Carroll
36. “There is a place, like No place on earth. The land is full of wonder, mystery, and danger. Some say, to survive it, you need to be as mad as a hatter. Which, luckily, I am.” — Lewis Carroll
37. “When I used to read fairy-tales, I fancied that kind of thing never happened, and now here I am in the middle of one!” — Lewis Carroll
38. “The “Why?” cannot, and need not, be put into words. Those For whom a child’s mind is a sealed book, and who see no divinity in a child’s smile, would read such words in vain: while For anyone that has ever loved one true child, no words are needed. For he will have known the awe that falls on one in the presence of a spirit fresh from GOD’s hands, on whom no shadow of sin, and but the outermost fringe of the shadow of sorrow, has yet fallen: he will have felt the bitter contrast between the haunting selfishness that spoils his best deeds and the life that is but an overflowing love–for I think a child’s first attitude to the world is a simple love For all living things: and he will have learned that the best work a man can do is when he works For love’s sake only, with No thought of the name, or gain, or earthly reward. No deed of ours, I suppose, on this site, the grave, is really unselfish: yet if one can put forth all one’s powers in a task where nothing of reward is hoped For but a little child’s whispered thanks, and the airy touch of a little child’s pure lips, one seems to come somewhere near to this.” — Lewis Carroll
39. “She who saves a single soul saves the universe.” — Lewis Carroll
40. “People who don’t think shouldn’t talk.” — Lewis Carroll
41. “It would be so nice if something made sense For a change.” — Lewis Carroll
42. “Life, what is it but a dream?” — Lewis Carroll
43. ”You’re not the same as you were before,” he said. You were much more… muchier… you’ve lost your muchness.” — Lewis Carroll
44. “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” — Lewis Carroll
45. “Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.” — Lewis Carroll
Video: The Mind Behind Wonderland – The Secret World of Lewis Carroll
Wow, this is an unbelievably fascinating video about Mr. Carroll. Some have said that Alice in Wonderland is the 2nd most quoted book in print, only second to the Bible. We’re not sure if that is confirmed but so many people regularly refer to the rich and playful world that Mr. Carroll paints in the book This educational biography offers some fascinating insights into his life.
Summary
As you can tell by the above Lewis Carroll quotes, that he was an intriguing person who thought out of the box! While some of his poetry seems odd, it tends to have a deeper message hidden within.
And you too can gain some wisdom by channeling into the universal energy. May your path in life bring you joyous moments to carry into the future!
Image Credit: Stuart Dodgson Collingwood, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
I’m Alice Judy and AnQuotes is a fun hobby for me. We know that everyone loves a great quote and our mission here is simple – to be the best and most interesting quote site in the world! If you have quotes you would like us to cover, please contact us.
