Stand out quotes vary. Some grab us and cause us to say, “ah!” Then others come along and burn out as quickly as they were lit. Then there’s the ones which latch on to us. It gnaws at us and doesn’t let go.

Quotes like these have longevity. Often, they stand alone outside their context. Holding meaning without being drawn into the abstract; where the quote loses meaning, or worse, has it’s meaning misrepresented.

Writing these kinds of quotes down is always a good thing to do. They tend to be words in season or word given for a season to come. Words that aren’t kept in order to win arguments, but words encountered that sow deep encouragement. Words that change us. Words that build us. Words that multiply life and the significance of it.

Words exemplified by John Bunyan,

‘Do you the substance of my matter see.

Put by the curtains, look within my veil;

Turn up my metaphors, and do not fail:

There if you seek them such things to find,

As will be helpful to an honest mind.’

– (Pilgrims Progress, The Conclusion)