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Quote by May Sarton

“If art is not to be life-enhancing, what is it to be?”

Quote by May Sarton

Book:Journal of a Solitude

Work

Journal of a Solitude

This book is a collection of personal reflections and musings on the nature of solitude, offering readers a glimpse into the author's thoughts and experiences. more

Author

American poet, born on May 3, 1912, and died on July 16, 1995. Known for her profound psychological insights and delicate portrayals of natural landscapes, May Sarton's poetry has had a significant impact on contemporary poetry, earning her numerous literary awards. more

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“Thou oughtest to be nice, even to Superstition, in keeping thy Promises; and therefore thou shouldst be equally cautious in making them.”

Nice Ought Promise Superstitions Being Nice Cautious Broken Promises Breaking Promises Be Cautious Keeping Promises Kept Promises Promises That Are Broken

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“One must believe that private dilemmas are, if deeply examined, universal, and so, if expressed, have a human value beyond the private, and one must also believe in the vehicle for expressing them, in the talent.”

Ifs Believe Humans Values Belief Talent Universal Vehicle Dilemma Human Values

Book:Journal of a Solitude

Source: Journal of a Solitude

“I want feelings to be expressed, to be open, to be natural, not to be looked on as strange. It's not weird if you feel deeply.”

Ifs Want Feels Feelings Natural Emotion Strange

Book:Conversations with May Sarton

Source: Conversations with May Sarton

“Am I too old, perhaps, ever to take in another's life to share with mine on a permanent basis? If so, I must make do with what I have... and what I have is a great richness of friends and a positively ardent love of nature. Not nothing!”

Ifs Share Mines Bases Permanent Positively Richness Ardent Nature Love

Book:The Journals of May Sarton Volume One: Journal of a Solitude, Plant Dreaming Deep, and Recovering

Source: The Journals of May Sarton Volume One: Journal of a Solitude, Plant Dreaming Deep, and Recovering

“I would predicate that in all great works of genius masculine and feminine elements in the personality find expression, whether this androgynous nature is played out sexually or not.”

Expression Personality Genius Elements Feminine Masculine Great Work Sexually Masculine And Feminine Androgynous

Author:May Sarton

“It looks as if I were meant to be alone, and that any hope of happiness is not meant. Am I too old to acquire the knack for happiness?”

Ifs Looks Acquire Meant To Be Were Meant To Be Knack Meant To Be Alone

Book:The Journals of May Sarton Volume One: Journal of a Solitude, Plant Dreaming Deep, and Recovering

Source: The Journals of May Sarton Volume One: Journal of a Solitude, Plant Dreaming Deep, and Recovering

“If we are to understand the human condition, and if we are to accept ourselves in all the complexity, self-doubt, extravagance of feeling, guilt, joy, the slow freeing of the self to its full capacity for action and creation, both as human being and as artist, we have to know all we can about each other, and we have to be willing to go naked.”

Source: Journal of a Solitude

“You can't plan for a seizure of feeling, and for this reason I put everything else aside when I'm inspired.”

Reason Feelings Inspiration Plans Inspired Seizures

Author:May Sarton

“Real joy is becoming exceedingly rare among artists of any kind. And I have an idea that those who can and do communicate it are always people who have had a hard time. Then the joy has no smugness or self-righteousness in it, is inclusive not exclusive, and comes close to prayer.”

People Kind Ideas Real Self Hard Joy Artist Prayer Becoming Communicate Hard Times Righteousness Exclusive Self Righteousness Real Joy Smugness

Book:Journal of a Solitude

Source: Journal of a Solitude

“We can do anything, or almost, but how balanced, magnanimous, and modest one has to be to do anything! And also how patient. It is as true in the arts as anywhere else.”

Art Can Do Patience Patient Balanced Modest Magnanimous

Book:Journal of a Solitude

Source: Journal of a Solitude