What do you think?
Rate this book
Abounding Grace: An Anthology of Wisdom
M. Scott Peck, renowned for his writings on spiritual growth and author of the classic, The Road Less Traveled, has inspired countless people with his words of wisdom and insight. Now, in Abounding Grace, Dr. Peck presents us with a collection of his favorite quotations on such essential aspects of life as happiness, love, faith, and virtue. Gleaned from writers and thinkers, both famous and obscure, ancient and modern, these words--sometimes paradoxical, sometimes humorous, always eloquent and thought provoking--serve as guideposts on the road to a more spiritual existence.
In his commentary introducing each of the 12 parts of his book, Dr. Peck challenges us to live a life of consciousness, goodness, and wholeness, and to look within ourselves and seriously consider how we may make the most of who we are. Through questions, examples, and anecdotes from his own experiences, Dr. Peck provides an original, fascinating, and enriching reading experience, creating, in truth, An Anthology of Wisdom.
Abounding Grace is divided into 12 parts: Happiness, Courage, Compassion, Purity, Perseverance, Courtesy, Faith, Goodness, Love, Respect, Strength, and Wisdom. Dr. Peck has written a lengthy introduction and a commentary for each of the 12 parts.
Below is an excerpt from his commentary on Happiness:
"Happiness as an unmodified goal will likely be self-defeating. . . . Seek to be loved and you probably won't be; seek to love, on the other hand, and you probably will be. Look solely for happiness, and I doubt you'll find it. Forget about happiness, seek wisdom and goodness, and happiness will probably find you."
The following are a few quotations from the same part:
"Happiness depends upon ourselves." -Aristotle
"The bird of paradise alights only upon the hand that does not grasp." -John Berry
"When you jump for joy, beware that no one moves the ground from beneath your feet." -Stanislaw Lec
"We all may have come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now." -Martin Luther King Jr.
"Arrange whatever pieces come your way." -Virginia Woolf
"Joy is not in things; it is in us." -Richard
In his commentary introducing each of the 12 parts of his book, Dr. Peck challenges us to live a life of consciousness, goodness, and wholeness, and to look within ourselves and seriously consider how we may make the most of who we are. Through questions, examples, and anecdotes from his own experiences, Dr. Peck provides an original, fascinating, and enriching reading experience, creating, in truth, An Anthology of Wisdom.
Abounding Grace is divided into 12 parts: Happiness, Courage, Compassion, Purity, Perseverance, Courtesy, Faith, Goodness, Love, Respect, Strength, and Wisdom. Dr. Peck has written a lengthy introduction and a commentary for each of the 12 parts.
Below is an excerpt from his commentary on Happiness:
"Happiness as an unmodified goal will likely be self-defeating. . . . Seek to be loved and you probably won't be; seek to love, on the other hand, and you probably will be. Look solely for happiness, and I doubt you'll find it. Forget about happiness, seek wisdom and goodness, and happiness will probably find you."
The following are a few quotations from the same part:
"Happiness depends upon ourselves." -Aristotle
"The bird of paradise alights only upon the hand that does not grasp." -John Berry
"When you jump for joy, beware that no one moves the ground from beneath your feet." -Stanislaw Lec
"We all may have come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now." -Martin Luther King Jr.
"Arrange whatever pieces come your way." -Virginia Woolf
"Joy is not in things; it is in us." -Richard
384 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2000
7 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
M. Scott Peck
120 books1,665 followersMorgan Scott Peck was an American psychiatrist and best-selling author who wrote the book The Road Less Traveled, published in 1978.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 31, 2017
I liked it. I have never read a collection of quotes - the internet seems to be overflowing with poorly researched quotes with unconfirmed connections to supposed authors which is annoying to me so I was never drawn to a collection of quotes. A book where the sentences aren't even connected to each other? No thank you.
But Abounding Grace is very well edited. To be honest, Peck's 12 introductions to the 12 collections of quotes by themselves would have made a book worth reading. And some of the quotes themselves are very thought provoking and will stick with you for a long time.
The title: Abounding Grace in my understanding has very little to do with what the book actually is, so I would say it is a bad title. An Anthology of Wisdom - although promising a lot, is much better. (But I am starting to get used to Peck choosing bad titles to his books.)
But Abounding Grace is very well edited. To be honest, Peck's 12 introductions to the 12 collections of quotes by themselves would have made a book worth reading. And some of the quotes themselves are very thought provoking and will stick with you for a long time.
The title: Abounding Grace in my understanding has very little to do with what the book actually is, so I would say it is a bad title. An Anthology of Wisdom - although promising a lot, is much better. (But I am starting to get used to Peck choosing bad titles to his books.)
December 25, 2020
Dr. Peck takes on some big themes in this book.
"All truths are paradoxical "
Deep thinking is some of the cure for our dilemmas in life.
"Do not try to make everything try to fit your formula, of what you think life should be: learn to glory in the paradoxes and mysteries of life "
A lot of food for thought here, the summaries of each section could be a book.
Pick anywhere in this book and begin reading, then put it down and come back to it
4.65 out of 5 stars
"All truths are paradoxical "
Deep thinking is some of the cure for our dilemmas in life.
"Do not try to make everything try to fit your formula, of what you think life should be: learn to glory in the paradoxes and mysteries of life "
A lot of food for thought here, the summaries of each section could be a book.
Pick anywhere in this book and begin reading, then put it down and come back to it
4.65 out of 5 stars
October 7, 2012
Scott peck has put together this anthology of quotes on the virtues of happiness, courage, compassion, purity, perseverance, courtesy, faith, goodness, love, respect, strength, and wisdom. If you have a natural philosophical bent you will find most of the quotes in this 384 page book to be quite profound. If you have no interest in a collection of quotes then don't buy this book. If you do read on and see what you think of this sampling of quotes found in the book:
CHARITY
Posthumous charities are the very essence of selfishness when bequeathed by those who, when alive, would part with nothing.
- Charles Caleb Colton
Charity, to be fruitful, must cost us.
- Mother Teresa
COMPASSION
One cannot weep for the entire world. It is beyond human strength. One must choose. - Jean Anouilh
Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat... We must find each other.
- Mother Teresa
GRATITUDE
A thankful heart is the parent of all virtues. - Cicero
Into the well which supplies thee with water, cast no stones. - Talmud
No duty is more urgent than returning thanks. - Saint Ambrose
Wise men appreciate all men, for they see the good in each, and know how hard it is to make anything good. - Baltasar Gracian
HAPPINESS
When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. - Helen Keller
Happiness is itself a kind of gratitude. - Joseph Wood Krutch
I find my joy of living in the fierce and ruthless battles of life, and my pleasure comes from learning something. - August Strindberg
If only we'd stop trying to be happy, we could have a pretty good time.
- Edith Wharton
COURAGE
Often the test of courage is not to die but to live. - Vittorio Alfieri
What is to give light must endure burning - Victor Frankl
Sometimes even to live is an act of courage - Seneca
Courage is like love; it must have hope for nourishment. - Napoleon I
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode
It often takes more courage to change one's opinion than to stick to it.
- George Christopher Litenburg
Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?
- Frank Scully
CHARITY
Posthumous charities are the very essence of selfishness when bequeathed by those who, when alive, would part with nothing.
- Charles Caleb Colton
Charity, to be fruitful, must cost us.
- Mother Teresa
COMPASSION
One cannot weep for the entire world. It is beyond human strength. One must choose. - Jean Anouilh
Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat... We must find each other.
- Mother Teresa
GRATITUDE
A thankful heart is the parent of all virtues. - Cicero
Into the well which supplies thee with water, cast no stones. - Talmud
No duty is more urgent than returning thanks. - Saint Ambrose
Wise men appreciate all men, for they see the good in each, and know how hard it is to make anything good. - Baltasar Gracian
HAPPINESS
When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. - Helen Keller
Happiness is itself a kind of gratitude. - Joseph Wood Krutch
I find my joy of living in the fierce and ruthless battles of life, and my pleasure comes from learning something. - August Strindberg
If only we'd stop trying to be happy, we could have a pretty good time.
- Edith Wharton
COURAGE
Often the test of courage is not to die but to live. - Vittorio Alfieri
What is to give light must endure burning - Victor Frankl
Sometimes even to live is an act of courage - Seneca
Courage is like love; it must have hope for nourishment. - Napoleon I
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode
It often takes more courage to change one's opinion than to stick to it.
- George Christopher Litenburg
Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?
- Frank Scully
March 21, 2008
I'm a sucker for quotes -- I have a huge collection saved in Microsoft Office to append to my e-mail signatures. This book is an excellent resource for inspirational quotes, divided into various categories (love, courage, faith, friendship, etc.)
July 13, 2013
In Peck's usual style this book on virtues is thought provoking. It confirms some of our cherished values and challenges us to include others. The introductory sections with anecdotes helps to frame and carry the pith quotes through the book/audio. Having two voices on the audio is helpful.
July 28, 2011
This is a GREAT collection of quotes
July 2, 2018
Fantastic collection of quotes... diverse yet all compatible with the Christian faith
October 15, 2019
Great quotes and perspective.
February 29, 2024
Abounding Grace is a collection of sayings on the nature of virtue in a variety of expressions of virtues such as generosity, strength, compassion, purity and wisdom. I "read" this book as an audiobook and so did not experience it as a collection of sayings as much as running commentary on the nature of virtue and the many ways they are perceived. At the beginning of each chapter, Peck gives an overview of the virtue before just listing what he considered the most important and pithy sayings.
July 9, 2024
Such a great book of wisdom. If only one could internalize every quote in this book he would be the wisest person in the world. Love how Peck draws from absolutely every walk of life and every philosophy in the world to put together this book. Perhaps a better name for this book would be “An Anthology of Wisdom”.
August 4, 2009
Excellent and pithy quotes that make you think.
October 4, 2012
Reading a large anthology of quotes like this is kind of like trying to drink from a fire hydrant. That's all I have to say.
May 3, 2013
Mostly quotes but a great read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews