19 Quotes by Mary Oliver about life

  • Author Mary Oliver
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    When it’s over, I want to say: all my lifeI was a bride married to amazement.I was a bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.When it’s over, I don’t want to wonderif I have made of my life something particular, and real.I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightenedor full of argument.I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.

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  • Author Mary Oliver
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    5One or two things are all you needto travel over the blue pond, over the deeproughage of the trees and through the stiffflowers of lightning --- some deepmemory of pleasure, some cuttingknowledge of pain.6But to lift the hoof!For that you needan idea.7For years and years I struggledjust to love my life. And thenthe butterflyrose, weightless, in the wind."Don't love your lifetoo much," it said,and vanishedinto the world.

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  • Author Mary Oliver
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    Listen, the heart-shackles are not, as you think, death, illness, pain, unrequited hope, not loneliness, but lassitude, rue, vainglory, fear, anxiety, selfishness

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  • Author Mary Oliver
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    When it over, I want to say:all my lifeI was a bride married to amazement.I was a bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.When it's over, I don't want to wonderif 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.from "When the death comes

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  • Author Mary Oliver
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    Every year the hatchlings wake in the swaying branches,in the silver baskets,and love the world.Is it necessary to say any more?Have you heard them singing in the wind, above the final fields?Have you ever been so happy in your life?

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  • Author Mary Oliver
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    What can we do but keep on breathing in and out, modest and willing, and in our places?

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