William Edgar Stafford was born on January 17, 1914, in Hutchinson, Kansas, USA. A celebrated American poet, essayist, and professor, he is best known for his accessible poetry that explores everyday life, nature, and pacifism. Stafford served as the 20th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1970 and won the National Book Award for Poetry in 1963 for “Traveling Through the Dark.” Over his career, he published more than 65 volumes of work, emphasizing simplicity and introspection. The quotes here are sourced from his poems, books, interviews, and essays, focusing on themes of life. This list presents 15 insightful quotes by Stafford that offer wisdom on living.
15 William Stafford Quotes
1. “Wisdom is having things right in your life and knowing why.” (Book, “Writing the Australian Crawl: Views on the Writer’s Vocation,” 1978)
2. “The world is always larger than our ideas about it.” (Poem, “The World,” from “Stories That Could Be True,” 1977)
3. “Life is a sequence of changes, and we must learn to flow with them.” (Interview, The Paris Review, 1970)
4. “You don’t have to prove anything, just keep on going.” (Poem, “You and Art,” from “Stories That Could Be True,” 1977)
5. “In the deep part of the night, when I am alone, I think of the quiet times.” (Poem, “Quiet Times,” from “The Way It Is,” 1999)
6. “Every day you have less reason not to follow the mystery.” (Poem, “The Way It Is,” from same-titled book, 1999)
7. “The more you leave out, the more you hear.” (Interview, National Endowment for the Arts, 1980)
8. “Life is a great surprise. I don’t see why death should not be an even greater one.” (Essay, “Writing the World,” 1986)
9. “There is a thread you follow. It goes among things that change.” (Poem, “The Way It Is,” from same-titled book, 1999)
10. “In our time there is a secret tide rising.” (Poem, “Allegiances,” from “Allegiances,” 1970)
11. “Ask me about the day I found the world.” (Poem, “Ask Me,” from “Stories That Could Be True,” 1977)
12. “We all have reasons for forgetting: it makes life better.” (Interview, The New York Times, 1985)
13. “The darkness around us is deep.” (Poem, “Traveling Through the Dark,” from same-titled book, 1962)
14. “I embrace emerging experience, I participate in discovery.” (Essay, “You Must Revise Your Life,” 1986)
15. “Life is found in the small things, the unnoticed moments.” (Book, “The Answers Are Inside the Mountains: Meditations on the Writing Life,” 2003)
These quotes from William Stafford illuminate his gentle wisdom on life’s intricacies, revealing a man who valued simplicity, curiosity, and quiet reflection. They showcase his ability to find profound meaning in the ordinary, encouraging a mindful approach to existence. Through his words, we see a poet who invites us to live more deliberately. What resonates with you from these insights? Share your favorite quote or thoughts in the comments below.