Mary Oliver Quotes

Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by Mary Oliver

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Mary Oliver Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Mary Oliver on Wise Famous Quotes.

Mary Oliver quotes: Be ignited, or be gone. Be ignited, or be gone.
Mary Oliver quotes: As music is present yet you can't touch it. As music is present yet you can't touch it.
Mary Oliver quotes: I believe art is utterly important. It is one of the things that could save us. I believe art is utterly important. It is one of the things that could save us.
Mary Oliver quotes: Music: what so many sentences aspire to be. Music: what so many sentences aspire to be.
Mary Oliver quotes: And I say to my heart: rave on. And I say to my heart: rave on.
Mary Oliver quotes: My first two books are out of print and, okay, they can sleep there comfortably. It's early work, derivative work. My first two books are out of print and, okay, they can sleep there comfortably. It's early work, derivative work.
Mary Oliver quotes: How shall I touch you unless it is everywhere? How shall I touch you unless it is everywhere?
Mary Oliver quotes: The patterns of our lives reveal us. Our habits measure us. The patterns of our lives reveal us. Our habits measure us.
Mary Oliver quotes: The sea is the most beautiful face in our universe. The sea is the most beautiful face in our universe.
Mary Oliver quotes: It is the nature of stone to be satisfied. It is the nature of water to want to be somewhere else. It is the nature of stone to be satisfied. It is the nature of water to want to be somewhere else.
Mary Oliver quotes: Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it. Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.
Mary Oliver quotes: I feel the terror of idleness, like a red thirst. Death isn't just an idea. I feel the terror of idleness, like a red thirst. Death isn't just an idea.
Mary Oliver quotes: A poet's interest in craft never fades, of course. A poet's interest in craft never fades, of course.
Mary Oliver quotes: I want to be braver and more honest about my life. When you're sexually abused, there's a lot of damage. I want to be braver and more honest about my life. When you're sexually abused, there's a lot of damage.
Mary Oliver quotes: And now you'll be telling stories of my coming back and they won't be false, and they won't be true but they'll be real And now you'll be telling stories of my coming back and they won't be false, and they won't be true but they'll be real
Mary Oliver quotes: We can know a lot. And still, no doubt, there are rash and wonderful ideas brewing somewhere; there are many surprises yet to come. We can know a lot. And still, no doubt, there are rash and wonderful ideas brewing somewhere; there are many surprises yet to come.
Mary Oliver quotes: No, I'd never been to this countrybefore. No, I didn't know where the roadswould lead me. No, I didn't intend to turn back. No, I'd never been to this country
before. No, I didn't know where the roads
would lead me. No, I didn't intend to
turn back.
Mary Oliver quotes: All my lifeI have been restless-I have felt there is somethingmore wonderful than gloss-than wholeness-than staying at home. All my life
I have been restless-
I have felt there is something
more wonderful than gloss-
than wholeness-
than staying at home.
Mary Oliver quotes: Look for verbs of muscle, adjectives of exactitude. Look for verbs of muscle, adjectives of exactitude.
Mary Oliver quotes: I was very careful never to take an interesting job. If you have an interesting job, you get interested in it. I was very careful never to take an interesting job. If you have an interesting job, you get interested in it.
Mary Oliver quotes: Each body is a lion of courage, something precious of the earth. Each body is a lion of courage, something precious of the earth.
Mary Oliver quotes: The three ingredients of poetry: the mystery of the universe, spiritual curiosity, the energy of language. The three ingredients of poetry: the mystery of the universe, spiritual curiosity, the energy of language.
Mary Oliver quotes: I think there ought to bea little music here:hum, hum. I think there ought to be
a little music here:
hum, hum.
Mary Oliver quotes: I wanted to hurry into the work of my life; I wanted to know, whoever I was, I was alive for a little while. I wanted to hurry into the work of my life; I wanted to know, whoever I was, I was alive for a little while.
Mary Oliver quotes: Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift. Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.
Mary Oliver quotes: Belief isn't always easy. But this much I have learned if not enough else to live with my eyes open. Belief isn't always easy.
But this much I have learned
if not enough else
to live with my eyes open.
Mary Oliver quotes: Oh Lord of melons, of mercy, though I am not ready, nor worthy, I am climbing towards you. Oh Lord of melons, of mercy, though I am not ready, nor worthy, I am climbing towards you.
Mary Oliver quotes: Where you crawl and crawl, where you live in the husks of trees, where you lie on the wild twigs Where you crawl and crawl,
where you live in the husks of trees,
where you lie on the wild twigs
Mary Oliver quotes: The subjects that stir the heart are not so many, after all, and they do not change. The subjects that stir the heart are not so many, after all, and they do not change.
Mary Oliver quotes: The language of the poem is the language of particulars. The language of the poem is the language of particulars.
Mary Oliver quotes: Do you cherish your humble and silky life? Do you cherish your humble and silky life?
Mary Oliver quotes: The Uses of Sorrow(In my sleep I dreamed this poem)Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness.It The Uses of Sorrow
(In my sleep I dreamed this poem)
Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness.
It
Mary Oliver quotes: Things take the time they take.Don't worry.How many roads did St. Augustine follow before he became St. Augustine? Things take the time they take.
Don't worry.
How many roads did St. Augustine follow before he became St. Augustine?
Mary Oliver quotes: Every word is a messenger. Some have wings; some are filled with fire; some are filled with death. Every word is a messenger. Some have wings; some are filled with fire; some are filled with death.
Mary Oliver quotes: Love yourself. Then forget it.Then, love the world. Love yourself. Then forget it.
Then, love the world.
Mary Oliver quotes: Listen, whatever you see and lovethat's where you are. Listen, whatever you see and love
that's where you are.
Mary Oliver quotes: What good does it doto lie all day in the sunloving what's easy?It never grew easy,but at least I grew peaceful: What good does it do
to lie all day in the sun
loving what's easy?
It never grew easy,
but at least I grew peaceful:
Mary Oliver quotes: When death comes ... .I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:what it's going to be like, that cottage of darkness? When death comes ... .
I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:
what it's going to be like, that cottage of darkness?
Mary Oliver quotes: Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, Stay awhile. Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, Stay awhile.
Mary Oliver quotes: You must not ever stop being whimsical. And you must not, ever, give anyone else the responsibility for your life. You must not ever stop being whimsical. And you must not, ever, give anyone else the responsibility for your life.
Mary Oliver quotes: I am a performing artist; I perform admiration.'Come with me', I want my poems to say. 'And do the same I am a performing artist; I perform admiration.
'Come with me', I want my poems to say. 'And do the same
Mary Oliver quotes: Look, hasn't my body already felt like the body of a flower? Look, hasn't my body already felt like the body of a flower?
Mary Oliver quotes: Maybe the world, without us, is the real poem. Maybe the world, without us, is the real poem.
Mary Oliver quotes: ... Clear pebbles of the rain ... ... Clear pebbles of the rain ...
Mary Oliver quotes: That God had a plan, I do not doubt.But what if His plan was, that we would do better? That God had a plan, I do not doubt.
But what if His plan was, that we would do better?
Mary Oliver quotes: I believe in kindness. Also in mischief. Also in singing, especially when singing is not necessarily prescribed. I believe in kindness. Also in mischief. Also in singing, especially when singing is not necessarily prescribed.
Mary Oliver quotes: life is real,and pain is real,but death is an imposter, life is real,
and pain is real,
but death is an imposter,
Mary Oliver quotes: Today again I am hardly myself. It happens over and over. Today again I am hardly myself. It happens over and over.
Mary Oliver quotes: When a man says he hears angels singing,he hears angels singing. When a man says he hears angels singing,
he hears angels singing.
Mary Oliver quotes: I simply do not distinguish between work and play. I simply do not distinguish between work and play.
Mary Oliver quotes: The rain is slow. The rain is slow.
Mary Oliver quotes: My work is loving the world. Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird - equal seekers of sweetness. My work is loving the world. Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird - equal seekers of sweetness.
Mary Oliver quotes: I don't ask for the sights in front of me to change, only the depth of my seeing. I don't ask for the sights in front of me to change, only the depth of my seeing.
Mary Oliver quotes: Be good-natured and untidy in your exuberance. Be good-natured and untidy in your exuberance.
Mary Oliver quotes: We need beauty because it makes us ache to be worthy of it. We need beauty because it makes us ache to be worthy of it.
Mary Oliver quotes: I read the way a person might swim, to save his or her life. I wrote that way too. I read the way a person might swim, to save his or her life. I wrote that way too.
Mary Oliver quotes: What can we do but keep on breathing in and out, modest and willing, and in our places? What can we do but keep on breathing in and out, modest and willing, and in our places?
Mary Oliver quotes: You do not own the rain, or thetrees, or the laws which pertain to them. You do not own the rain, or the
trees, or the laws which pertain to them.
Mary Oliver quotes: He is exactly the poem I wanted to write. He is exactly the poem I wanted to write.
Mary Oliver quotes: Whatever you know about here it doesn'ttell you Whatever you know about here it doesn't
tell you
Mary Oliver quotes: I always feel that whatever isn't necessary shouldn't be in a poem. I always feel that whatever isn't necessary shouldn't be in a poem.
Mary Oliver quotes: Does the hummingbird think he himself invented his crimson throat?He is wiser than that, I think. Does the hummingbird think he himself invented his crimson throat?
He is wiser than that, I think.
Mary Oliver quotes: To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work. To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.
Mary Oliver quotes: in this world I am as richas I need to be. in this world I am as rich
as I need to be.
Mary Oliver quotes: On poetry: Everyone wants to know what it means.But nobody is asking, How does it feel? On poetry: Everyone wants to know what it means.
But nobody is asking, How does it feel?
Mary Oliver quotes: Every day I walk out into the world / to be dazzled, then to be reflective. Every day I walk out into the world / to be dazzled, then to be reflective.
Mary Oliver quotes: I know the sag of the unfinished poem. And I know the release of the poem that is finished. I know the sag of the unfinished poem. And I know the release of the poem that is finished.
Mary Oliver quotes: This is the first, wildest, and wisest thing I know, that the soul exists, and that it is built entirely out of attention. This is the first, wildest, and wisest thing I know, that the soul exists, and that it is built entirely out of attention.
Mary Oliver quotes: Walks work for me. I enter some arena that is neither conscious or unconscious. Walks work for me. I enter some arena that is neither conscious or unconscious.
Mary Oliver quotes: You never know / What opportunity / Is going to travel to you, / Or through you. You never know / What opportunity / Is going to travel to you, / Or through you.
Mary Oliver quotes: What will you do with your one precious, wild life? What will you do with your one precious, wild life?
Mary Oliver quotes: I've always wanted to write poems and nothing else. I've always wanted to write poems and nothing else.
Mary Oliver quotes: I learn a lot about my poems when I read them by the way people respond to them. I learn a lot about my poems when I read them by the way people respond to them.
Mary Oliver quotes: When it's over I don't want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular, and real ... When it's over I don't want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular, and real ...
Mary Oliver quotes: But his big, round music, after all, is too breathy to last. But his big, round music, after all, is too breathy to last.
Mary Oliver quotes: We all have a hungry heart, and one of the things we hunger for is happiness. So as much as I possibly could, I stayed where I was happy. We all have a hungry heart, and one of the things we hunger for is happiness. So as much as I possibly could, I stayed where I was happy.
Mary Oliver quotes: May I be the tiniest nail in the house of the universe, tiny but useful. May I be the tiniest nail in the house of the universe, tiny but useful.
Mary Oliver quotes: And what has consciousness come to anyway, so far, that is better than these light-filled bodies? And what has consciousness come to anyway, so far, that is better than these light-filled bodies?
Mary Oliver quotes: There is only one question: / how to love this world. There is only one question: / how to love this world.
Mary Oliver quotes: I got saved by poetry and I got saved by the beauty of the world. I got saved by poetry and I got saved by the beauty of the world.
Mary Oliver quotes: Knowing as we must, how the vivacity of what was is married to the vitality of what will be? I don't say it's easy, but what else will do Knowing as we must, how the vivacity of what was is married to the vitality of what will be? I don't say it's easy, but what else will do
Mary Oliver quotes: All eternity is in the moment. All eternity is in the moment.
Mary Oliver quotes: Now and again there's a moment,when the heart cries aloud:yes, I am willing to bethat wild darkness,that long, blue body of light. Now and again there's a moment,
when the heart cries aloud:
yes, I am willing to be
that wild darkness,
that long, blue body of light.
Mary Oliver quotes: I grew up in a confused house: too much unwanted attention or none at all. I grew up in a confused house: too much unwanted attention or none at all.
Mary Oliver quotes: we are all one family but love ourselves best. we are all one family but love ourselves best.
Mary Oliver quotes: In the darkness they wondered if theycould do it, and knew they had to tryto do it. In the darkness they wondered if they
could do it, and knew they had to try
to do it.
Mary Oliver quotes: So this is how you swim inward. So this is how you flow outwards. So this is how you pray. So this is how you swim inward. So this is how you flow outwards. So this is how you pray.
Mary Oliver quotes: I want to believe I am looking into the white fire of a great mystery. I want to believe I am looking into the white fire of a great mystery.
Mary Oliver quotes: I would rather write poems than prose, any day, any place. Yet each has its own force. I would rather write poems than prose, any day, any place. Yet each has its own force.
Mary Oliver quotes: The water, that circle of shattered glass,healed itself with a slow whisperand lay back The water, that circle of shattered glass,
healed itself with a slow whisper
and lay back
Mary Oliver quotes: I learned from Whitman that the poem is a temple--or a green field--a place to enter, and in which to feel. I learned from Whitman that the poem is a temple--or a green field--a place to enter, and in which to feel.
Mary Oliver quotes: The natural world is the old river that runs through everything, and I think poets will forever fish along its shores. The natural world is the old river that runs through everything, and I think poets will forever fish along its shores.
Mary Oliver quotes: What does barbed wire feel like when you grip it, as though it were a plate and a fork, or a handful of flowers? What does barbed wire feel like when you grip it, as though it were a plate and a fork, or a handful of flowers?
Mary Oliver quotes: Sometimes breaking the rules is just extending the rules Sometimes breaking the rules is just extending the rules
Mary Oliver quotes: Oh, I would like to live in an empty house, with vines for walls, and a carpet of grass. No planks, no plastic, no fiberglass. Oh, I would like to live in an empty house, with vines for walls, and a carpet of grass. No planks, no plastic, no fiberglass.
Mary Oliver quotes: I climb, I backtrack. I float. I ramble my way home. I climb, I backtrack. I float. I ramble my way home.
Mary Oliver quotes: You can have the other words-chance, luck, coincidence, serendipity. I'll take grace. I don't know what it is exactly, but I'll take it. You can have the other words-chance, luck, coincidence, serendipity. I'll take grace. I don't know what it is exactly, but I'll take it.
Mary Oliver quotes: All things are inventions of holiness. Some more rascally than others. I All things are inventions of holiness. Some more rascally than others. I
Mary Oliver quotes: The dream of my life is to lie down by a slow river and stare at the light in the trees - to learn something by being nothing The dream of my life is to lie down by a slow river and stare at the light in the trees - to learn something by being nothing
Mary Oliver quotes: In my own work, I usually revise through forty or fifty drafts of a poem before I begin to feel content with it. In my own work, I usually revise through forty or fifty drafts of a poem before I begin to feel content with it.

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