Author: Mary Oliver

Quotes

Poetry is one of the ancient arts, and it began as did all the fine arts, within the original wilderness of the earth.

Poetry is one of the ancient arts, and it began as did all the fine arts, within the original wilderness of the earth.

- Mary Oliver

In college, you learn how to learn. Four years is not too much time to spend at that.

In college, you learn how to learn. Four years is not too much time to spend at that.

- Mary Oliver

To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.

To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.

- Mary Oliver

Wasn't it Emerson who said, 'My life is for itself and not for a spectacle'? I have a happy, full, good life because I hold it private.

Wasn't it Emerson who said, 'My life is for itself and not for a spectacle'? I have a happy, full, good life because I hold it private.

- Mary Oliver

When it's over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it's over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

- Mary Oliver

Poetry isn't a profession, it's a way of life. It's an empty basket; you put your life into it and make something out of that.

Poetry isn't a profession, it's a way of life. It's an empty basket; you put your life into it and make something out of that.

- Mary Oliver

Instead of taking the reader by the hand and running him down the hill, I want to lead him into a house of many rooms, and leave him alone in each of them.

Instead of taking the reader by the hand and running him down the hill, I want to lead him into a house of many rooms, and leave him alone in each of them.

- Mary Oliver

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

- Mary Oliver

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

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