Wisdom is having things right in your life and knowing why. — William Stafford Growth Copy Share Image
There are so many things admirable people do not understand. — William Stafford Admirable Copy Share Image
A poem is a serious joke, a truth that has learned jujitsu. — William Stafford Crafts Copy Share Image
The root and the flower have to trust each other. If the root does not trust, the plant won't blossom. — William Stafford Doe Copy Share Image
Let the bucket of memory down into the well, bring it up. Cool, cool minutes. No one stirring, no plans. Just being… — William Stafford Being there Copy Share Image
'Be alive,' the land says, 'listen - this is your time, your world, your pleasure.' — William Stafford Alive Copy Share Image
“We think it is calm here, or that our storm is the right size.” — William Stafford Calm Copy Share Image
There is no such thing as writer's block for writers whose standards are low enough. — William Stafford Block Copy Share Image
You don't need many words if you already know what you're talking about. — William Stafford About Copy Share Image
It is as if the ordinary language we use every day has a hidden set of signals, a kind of secret code. — William Stafford Code Copy Share Image
And the things you know before you hear them; these are you and the reason you are in the world. — William Stafford Inspirational Copy Share Image
“This dream the world is having about itself includes a trace on the plains of the Oregon trail, a groove in the… — William Stafford Dream Copy Share Image
I heard a bird congratulating itself all day for being a jay. Nobody cared. But it was glad all over again, and… — William Stafford Bird Copy Share Image
A student comes to me with a piece of writing, holds it out, says, 'Is this good?' A whole sequence of emergencies… — William Stafford Asks Copy Share Image
“Readers should not be loaded with more information and guidance than a lively mind needs--puzzlement can be accepted, but insulting clarity is… — William Stafford Books Copy Share Image
Everyone is born a poet - a person discovering the way words sound and work, caring and delighting in words. I just… — William Stafford Born Copy Share Image
Once we have tasted far streams, touched the gold, found some limit beyond the waterfall, a season changes and we come back… — William Stafford Changed Copy Share Image
I embrace emerging experience, I participate in discovery. I am a butterfly. I am not a butterfly collector. I want the experience… — William Stafford Butterfly Copy Share Image
The more you let yourself be distracted from where you are going, the more you are the person that you are. It's… — William Stafford Distracted Copy Share Image
“Assurance" You will never be alone, you hear so deep a sound when autumn comes. Yellow pulls across the hills and thrums,… — William Stafford Assurance Copy Share Image
I keep following this sort of hidden river of my life, you know, whatever the topic or impulse which comes, I follow… — William Stafford Crescendo Copy Share Image
The things you do not have to say make you rich. Saying things you do not have to say weakens your talk.… — William Stafford Hearing Copy Share Image
“ Why I Am Happy Now has come, an easy time. I let it roll. There is a lake somewhere so blue… — William Stafford Happiness Copy Share Image
A student brings something to discuss, saying, "I don't know whether this is really good, or whether I should throw it in… — William Stafford Areas Copy Share Image
The Way It Is There’s a thread you follow. It goes among things that change. But it doesn’t change. People wonder about… — William Stafford Hurt Copy Share Image
I have a feeling that art is something you do for yourself, and that any time you turn your decisions over to… — William Stafford Accepting Copy Share Image
“If you don't know the kind of person I am and I don't know the kind of person you are a pattern… — William Stafford Cruelty Copy Share Image
Ask Me Some time when the river is ice ask me mistakes I have made. Ask me whether what I have done… — William Stafford Ask me Copy Share Image
Writing itself is one of the great, free human activities. There is scope for individuality, and elation, and discovery. In writing, for… — William Stafford Activity Copy Share Image
“A Ritual to Read to Each Other If you don’t know the kind of person I am and I don’t know the… — William Stafford Darkness Copy Share Image
“All events and experiences are local, somewhere. And all human enhancements of events and experiences -- all the arts -- are regional… — William Stafford Art Copy Share Image
The ocean and I have many pebbles To find and wash off and roll into shape. — William Stafford Ocean Copy Share Image
