Home / Authors / William Stafford

William Stafford

William Stafford Quotes

Poet

William Stafford was an American poet known for his concise and straightforward style. His works often explore the relationship between the individual and society, as well as profound reflections on the nature and existence of humans. Born on January 17, 1914, and died on August 28, 1993.

Filter quotes by topic

All Knows World Writing Ifs Way People Persons Happens Whole Done Found Kind Language Poetry Rivers Artist Discovery Giving May Poet

Famous William Stafford Quotes

“It is as if the ordinary language we use every day has a hidden set of signals, a kind of secret code.”

Ifs Kind Use Language Secret Ordinary Code Signals

Book:Crossing unmarked snow: further views on the writer's vocation

Source: Crossing unmarked snow: further views on the writer's vocation

“The root and the flower have to trust each other. If the root does not trust, the plant won't blossom.”

Ifs Doe Flower Roots Plant

Author:William Stafford

“If you can say it, it begins to exist.”

Author:William Stafford

“You don't need many words if you already know what you're talking about”

Ifs Knows Needs Talking

Author:William Stafford

“If you purify the pond, the lilies die”

Ifs Dies Lilies Ponds

Author:William Stafford

“A writer is not so much someone who has something to say as he is someone who has found a process that will bring about new things he would not have thought of if he had not started to say them.”

Ifs Found Process New Things

Book:Writing the Australian Crawl: Views on the Writer's Vocation

Source: Writing the Australian Crawl: Views on the Writer's Vocation

“If you don't know the kind of person I am and I don't know the kind of person you are a pattern that others made may prevail in the world and following the wrong god home we may miss our star.”

Ifs Knows World Kind May Persons Made Home Stars Missing Patterns Following

Book:Every War Has Two Losers: William Stafford on Peace and War

Source: Every War Has Two Losers: William Stafford on Peace and War

“You shouldn't have standards that inhibit you from writing It really doesn't make any difference if you are good or bad today. The assessment of the product is something that happens after you've done it.”

Ifs Writing Done Happens Today Differences Products Standards Assessment

Author:William Stafford

About the Author

Born: January 17, 1914
Died: August 28, 1993
Known for: Poet
Quotes: 78

Related Topics

Knows World Writing Ifs Way People Persons Happens Whole Done Found Kind Language Poetry Rivers Artist Discovery Giving May Poet

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

The Way It Is: New and Selected PoemsRelated source material

Crossing unmarked snow: further views on the writer's vocationRelated source material

Ask Me: 100 Essential Poems of William StaffordRelated source material

Every War Has Two Losers: William Stafford on Peace and WarRelated source material

Writing the Australian Crawl: Views on the Writer's VocationRelated source material

Stories that could be true: new and collected poemsRelated source material

The answers are inside the mountains: meditations on the writing lifeRelated source material

You must revise your lifeRelated source material

An Oregon MessageRelated source material

Similar Authors

George SaundersBrowse related quotes
Stephen KingBrowse related quotes
Salman RushdieBrowse related quotes
Ursula K. Le GuinBrowse related quotes
Toni MorrisonBrowse related quotes
Anne LamottBrowse related quotes
Yoko OnoBrowse related quotes
Robert GreeneBrowse related quotes
Sandra CisnerosBrowse related quotes
David LevithanBrowse related quotes