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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.

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Famous William Stafford Quotes

“You and I can turn and look at the silent river and wait. We know the current is there, hidden; and there are comings and goings from miles away that hold the stillness exactly before us. What the river says, that is what I say.”

Knows Looks I Can Turns Waiting Silence Rivers Silent Currents Miles Stillness Miles Away

Book:Stories that could be true: new and collected poems

Source: Stories that could be true: new and collected poems

“Ask Me Some time when the river is ice ask me mistakes I have made. Ask me whether what I have done is my life. Others have come in their slow way into my thought, and some have tried to help or to hurt: ask me what difference their strongest love or hate has made. I will listen to what you say. You and I can turn and look at the silent river and wait. We know the current is there, hidden; and there are comings and goings from miles away that hold the stillness exactly before us. What the river says, that is what I say.”

Source: Ask Me: 100 Essential Poems of William Stafford

“Even the upper end of the river believes in the ocean.”

Believe Ends Sea Ocean Rivers Beach Ocean Sea Beach And Ocean Beach Ocean Sea And Beach Cool Beach

Book:The Way It Is: New and Selected Poems

Source: The Way It Is: New and Selected Poems

“I keep following this sort of hidden river of my life, you know, whatever the topic or impulse which comes, I follow it along trustingly. And I don't have any sense of its coming to a kind of crescendo, or of its petering out either. It is just going steadily along.”

Knows Kind Rivers Following Impulse Topics Crescendo

Author:William Stafford

About the Author

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

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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

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