I was that odd, artsy girl in high school who sat cross-legged in the poetry section of Barnes and Noble. I’d grab a few of the best looking covers and pour over the words. Something in my chest would flicker like a lighter before the flame.
I can remember the first time I bought a Mary Oliver book at a little bookstore in San Francisco. I was 18 and read it cover to cover on my bed that night. It rattled my insides and verbalized truths I needed to hear. Since then I have reread Oliver’s books dozens of times, I have gifted them to countless friends, and quoted her on Instagram at a shockingly high volume. Most people don’t read poetry these days, but Mary Oliver seems to attract an audience that touches every diversity. Her deep sense of wonder, natural imagery, and accessible language invite readers from all walks of life to enter in.
If you need a little magic in your day, here are 20 Mary Oliver quotes to live by:
1. “Tell me, what is it you plan to do/ with your one wild and precious life?”
2. “You do not have to be good./ You do not have to walk on your knees/ for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting./ You only have to let the soft animal of your body/ love what it loves.”
3. “I tell you this/ to break your heart, /by which I mean only/ that it break open and never close again/ to the rest of the world.”
4. “Listen – are you breathing just a little, and calling it a life?”
5. “I want to think again of dangerous and noble things.
I want to be light and frolicsome.
I want to be improbable, beautiful and afraid of nothing,
as though I had wings.”
6. “But little by little,/ as you left their voices behind,/ the stars began to burn/ through the sheets of clouds,/ and there was a new voice/ which you slowly/ recognized as your own,/ that kept you company/ as you strode deeper and deeper/ into the world,/ determined to do/ the only thing you could do –/ determined to save/ the only life you could save.”
7. “Keep some room in your heart for the Unimaginable”
8. “I simply do not distinguish between work and play.”
9. “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.”
10. “Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.”
11. “Ten times a day something happens to me like this – some strengthening throb of amazement – some good sweet empathic ping and swell. This is the first, the wildest and the wisest thing I know: that the soul exists and is built entirely out of attentiveness.”
12. “And to tell the truth I don’t want to let go of the wrists of idleness, I don’t want to sell my life for money, I don’t even want to come in out of the rain.”
13. “To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.”
14. “Love yourself. Then forget it. Then, love the world.”
15. “it is a serious thing /just to be alive / on this fresh morning / in this broken world.”
16. “But I also say this: that light is an invitation to happiness, and that happiness, when it’s done right, is a kind of holiness, palpable and redemptive. ”
17. “If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it…It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.”
18. “I believe in kindness. Also in mischief. Also in singing, especially when singing is not necessarily prescribed.”
19. “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 is over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened, or full of argument.
I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.”
20. “Someone I loved once gave me/ a box full of darkness./ It took me years to understand/ that this too, was a gift.”
Which Mary Oliver quote is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
Natalie Skeith is a storyteller and poet in Southern California. She has a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, believes in prayer, and has a gypsy heart. She tries to see the beauty in all things and believes champagne is for all occasions. Check out her blog at NatalieSkeith.com or on Instagram @NatalieSkeith.
Which Mary Oliver quote is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
My favorite Mary Oliver quote is, ” “I simply do not distinguish between work and play.” To me it is an affirmation of that which my heart already knows. It is the encouragement to create and teach and guide people on the spiritual journeys of their lives every day and always. It is a beautiful way to live.
#20 – Knowing that the hard times, the disappointments, the fear all have a purpose and can be used for our greater good.
Really love this.
Wow….the wise words making choosing so difficult…but on this morning of my 62nd year of life #5 resonates–
5. “I want to think again of dangerous and noble things.
I want to be light and frolicsome.
I want to be improbable, beautiful and afraid of nothing,
as though I had wings.”
“…Joy is not made to be a crumb”.
I find Joy in so many things. Things I’ve done, seen, heard or feel and there’s more to come. It’s infinite if you just appreciate.
The last one helps the most right now. I have lov d Mary Oliver’s writing a long time.
I’ve been thinking a lot about poetry lately and this was such a lovely and timely surprise in my inbox. Thank you Natalie Skeith for compiling quotes from one my favorite poets. My favorite Mary Oliver poem is the first one, “Tell me what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
13. “To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.”
I’m a huge Mary Oliver fan, always have been. My favorite quote listed here is
10. “Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.” It was a hard choice!
The last quote, number twenty. A black box could be a punch to the solar plexus but it could also be a door you haven’t opened yet.
Thank you for these precious words.
“To pay attention, this is our endless and
proper work.”
I love this quote. It is the essence of life.
#11…..the soul exists and is built entirely out of attentiveness – #11 is like smelling salts, waking me up to wonder.
6. “But little by little,/ as you left their voices behind,/ the stars began to burn/ through the sheets of clouds,/ and there was a new voice/ which you slowly/ recognized as your own,/ that kept you company/ as you strode deeper and deeper/ into the world,/ determined to do/ the only thing you could do –/ determined to save/ the only life you could save.”
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do/ with your one wild and precious life?”
Life is so precious, most people are so busy they miss it.
From “Blue Iris”: “Look, I want to love this world as though it’s the last chance I’m ever going to get to be alive and know it.” I also love the poem, “Freshen the Flowers, She Said”. And much more.
At this very moment I appreciate number two –
You only have to let the soft animal of your body/love what it loves.
I am only just delving into poetry having been invited into a poetry group and my heart is on fire. I am researching poets and found this thoughtful compilation of Mary Oliver’s gifts. Thank you!
“You can have the other words-…. I’ll take grace” I’ve never been quite sure what “having grace” means. I love the word, it sounds beautiful and looks beautiful when written.
My grandma passed 2 years ago. She was exactly 100-1/2 years old. I think she would have had it no other way. Her life, beginning to end was a difficult one. She had an abusive childhood, unmarried and 16 years old, she had a son she adored. When he was 6 weeks old, she returned home from work to find her home empty and abandoned. The baby’s father and grandmother had packed up, taken her son and headed for parts unknown. She married a few years later and when she was 46 years old, my grandpa suffered a massive stroke. She lovingly cared for him while she worked 3 jobs to support her husband, daughter and son. When she was 55 years old, my grandpa died. She continued to work 10 hour shifts as a cook so she could pay off medical bills, keep her house and buy a car. A very happy thing happened too; the son who had been stolen from her, found her and surprised her with a visit. Turns out, he had been searching for her for years! They remained close for the rest of her life. She retired when she was 70 years old, and became blind when she was 90 years old. In all of my treasured years with her, I never heard her speak an unkind word or utter the smallest complaint. She always spoke to me about gratitude and how being grateful was “good for my soul and would keep my heart light”. Before going to bed, she took a long bath and emerged from the bathroom smelling of soap and lotion (oh, I loved that smell) and wearing pretty floral pajamas. Each morning, she read from her Bible, dressed for the day (always in an everyday dress) put on her pink rouge, lipstick and powder and selected her earrings for the day. Even as a blind woman, she continued this ritual and never had so much as a hair out of place. When she died, I overheard two of her friends speaking about her; one of them said, “Violet was always the picture of grace.” If she was the image of grace, I’ll take grace any day.
This is my favorite Mary Oliver quote, but you have to wait a long time for it to come true – “But little by little,/ as you left their voices behind,/ the stars began to burn/ through the sheets of clouds,/ and there was a new voice/ which you slowly/ recognized as your own,/ that kept you company/ as you strode deeper and deeper/ into the world,/ determined to do/ the only thing you could do –/ determined to save/ the only life you could save.”
#9 I’ll take grace, too.
Without His grace I would be lost, but with it I am assured.
The one that spoke to me the most is: “Listen–are you breathing just a little, and calling it life?” To me that says, “Take a deep breath and start really living.”
I love the quote about our wild and precious life. It is a gift and a challenge.
I love her words “I’ll take grace. I don’t know what it is exactly, but I’ll take it.” My mother’s name was Grace and my father wrote a poem for her titled “Amazing Grace.” And I have a dog named Gracie, after my mother. But I’ve never understood exactly what Grace is either. Yet I think it takes grace to live life the way Mary Oliver did.
To pay attention, this is our work.
and poring over poetry is also noble.
20. “Someone I loved once gave me/ a box full of darkness./ It took me years to understand/ that this too, was a gift.” ????
Joy is not a crumb. (I believe that JOY is a gift from our Maker …we should never lose it .)
My favorite Mary Oliver quote isn’t in your list: “To live in this world you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go.
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