--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every day I see or hear something that…" description: "\"“Every day I see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight, that leaves me like a needle in the haystack of light. It was what I was bo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/mary-oliver-570_delight_every-day-i-see-or-hear-something-that-m_2597830.jpg" --- # Every day I see or hear something that more or less kills… ![“Every day I see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight, that leaves me like a needle in the haystack of light. It was what I was born for - to look, to listen, to lose myself inside this soft world - to instruct myself over and over in joy, and acclamation. Nor am I talking…” quote by Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/mary-oliver-570_delight_every-day-i-see-or-hear-something-that-m_2597830.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/mary-oliver-570_delight_every-day-i-see-or-hear-something-that-m_2597830.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/mary-oliver-570_delight_every-day-i-see-or-hear-something-that-m_2597830.jpg) > ““Every day I see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight, that leaves me like a needle in the haystack of light. It was what I was born for - to look, to listen, to lose myself inside this soft world - to instruct myself over and over in joy, and acclamation. Nor am I talking about the exceptional, the fearful, the dreadful, the very extravagant - but of the ordinary, the common, the very drab, the daily presentations. Oh, good scholar, I say to myself, how can you help but grow wise with such teachings as these - the untrimmable light of the world, the ocean’s shine, the prayers that are made out of grass?”” [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker finds profound joy in ordinary moments, seeing everyday sights as radiant teachings that nurture wisdom and gratitude. **In simple terms:** Ordinary moments bring deep joy and wisdom. Key Takeaway Notice and cherish daily wonders. Themes joy mindfulness beauty wisdom Mood uplifting reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - morning walks - reading poetry - observing nature - mindful meditation Key Concepts aesthetic appreciation transcendence spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How do you notice subtle beauty daily? - What ordinary moments teach you? A Different Perspective The intensity of feeling may be overwhelming for some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Good Scholar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-scholar-1038059/) [Instruct Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruct-joy-1918226/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Light of the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-of-the-world/) [Scholar Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholar-say-1918227/) [Wise Teachings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-teachings-1557865/) ## Related quotes > [“Gary Sherman has written a truly insightful and helpful book that will positively change the lives of its readers. Although many books have wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-delman/gary-sherman-has-written-a-truly-insightful-and-helpful-book-that/) [Russell Delman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-delman/) > [One learns more from a good scholar in a rage than from a score of lucid and laborious drudges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/one-learns-more-from-a-good-scholar-in-a-rage-than-from-a-score-of/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“Unspoiled by education, frank and unsuspecting as young an8imals, they came up to school from their meadows, their games, and their dreams. The simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-maria-remarque/unspoiled-by-education-frank-and-unsuspecting-as-young-an8imals-they/) [Erich Maria Remarque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-maria-remarque/) > [I'm a good scholar when it comes to reading but a blotting kind of writer when you give me a pen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-millington-synge/i-m-a-good-scholar-when-it-comes-to-reading-but-a-blotting-kind-of/) [John Millington Synge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-millington-synge/) > [The book of Revelation says that we no longer need the sun or the moon, for Christ is the light of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/the-book-of-revelation-says-that-we-no-longer-need-the-sun-or-the/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [Often you can see power lines running alongside the street. Unless current is flowing through them, there is no light. The power line is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/often-you-can-see-power-lines-running-alongside-the-street-unless/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [We the Christians may not save the souls of unbelievers because only Jesus Christ does that but we are the bridge by which they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-kang/we-the-christians-may-not-save-the-souls-of-unbelievers-because-only/) [Albert Kang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-kang/) > [Reading and understanding the Bible involves lots and lots of interpretation. Not just in light of the world and culture around us, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/reading-and-understanding-the-bible-involves-lots-and-lots-of/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [He opened a window in my heart, and the light of the world shined in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/he-opened-a-window-in-my-heart-and-the-light-of-the-world-shined-in/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [“You are the light of the world. Shine brightly. Smile beautifully! Rejoice daily!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-m-mcgraw/you-are-the-light-of-the-world-shine-brightly-smile-beautifully/) [Brenda M. McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-m-mcgraw/) > [“Some of you need a lesson in humility. While your arrogance may give you a sense of power, it may serve you better to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-son-m-lee-2/some-of-you-need-a-lesson-in-humility-while-your-arrogance-may-give/) [J 'son M. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-son-m-lee-2/) > [Mary means enlightener, because She brought forth the Light of the world. In the Syriac tongue, Mary signifies Lady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isidore-of-seville/mary-means-enlightener-because-she-brought-forth-the-light-of-the/) [Isidore of Seville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isidore-of-seville/) > [“Run to and fro everywhere, holy fires, beautiful fires; for you are the light of the world, nor are you put under a bushel.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/run-to-and-fro-everywhere-holy-fires-beautiful-fires-for-you-are-the/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [ “Stay on Course Let your eyes look right on \[with fixed purpose\], and let your gaze be straight before you. Consider well the path… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/stay-on-course-let-your-eyes-look-right-on-with-fixed-purpose-and-let/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [The Bible says that Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. On the job, in the grocery store,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/the-bible-says-that-christians-are-the-salt-of-the-earth-and-the/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) ## More by Mary Oliver > [Belief isn't always easy. But this much I have learned--- if not enough else--- to live with my eyes open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/belief-isn-t-always-easy-but-this-much-i-have-learned-if-not-enough/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [In this universe we are given two gifts: the ability to love and the ability to question. Which are, at the same time, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/in-this-universe-we-are-given-two-gifts-the-ability-to-love-and-the/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [Poetry is one of the original arts, and it began, as did all the fine arts, within the original wilderness of the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/poetry-is-one-of-the-original-arts-and-it-began-as-did-all-the-fine/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [The dream of my life is to lie down by a slow river and stare at the light in the trees - to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/the-dream-of-my-life-is-to-lie-down-by-a-slow-river-and-stare-at-the/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/tell-me-what-is-it-you-plan-to-do-with-your-one-wild-and-precious-life/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“All important ideas must include the trees, the mountains, and the rivers. • To understand many things you must reach out of your own condition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/all-important-ideas-must-include-the-trees-the-mountains-and-the/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“Sometimes I think, were I just a little rougher made, I would go altogether to the woods—to my work entirely, and solitude, a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/sometimes-i-think-were-i-just-a-little-rougher-made-i-would-go/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“First Snow The snow began here this morning and all day continued, its white rhetoric everywhere calling us back to why, how, whence such beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/first-snow-the-snow-began-here-this-morning-and-all-day-continued-its/) [mary oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“What can I say that I have not said before? So I’ll say it again. The leaf has a song in it. Stone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/what-can-i-say-that-i-have-not-said-before-so-i-ll-say-it-again-the/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [The sea is the most beautiful face in our universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/the-sea-is-the-most-beautiful-face-in-our-universe/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [There is nothing better than work. Work is also play; children know that. Children play earnestly as if it were work. But people grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/there-is-nothing-better-than-work-work-is-also-play-children-know/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“What will you do with your one precious, wild life?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/what-will-you-do-with-your-one-precious-wild-life/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“Poetry is a life-cherishing force. For poems are not words, after all, but fires for the cold, ropes let down to the lost, something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/poetry-is-a-life-cherishing-force-for-poems-are-not-words-after-all/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“I stood like Adam in his lonely garden On that first morning, shaken out of sleep, Rubbing his eyes, listening, parting the leaves, Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/i-stood-like-adam-in-his-lonely-garden-on-that-first-morning-shaken/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [We all have a hungry heart, and one of the things we hunger for is happiness. So as much as I possibly could, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/we-all-have-a-hungry-heart-and-one-of-the-things-we-hunger-for-is/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) [Explore all 470 Mary Oliver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) ## More Delight quotes > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) [James Nayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nayler/) > [There was an Old Man of Messina, Whose daughter was named Opsibeena; She wore a small wig, and rode out on a pig, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lear/there-was-an-old-man-of-messina-whose-daughter-was-named-opsibeena/) [Edward Lear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lear/) > [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-it-burns-as-a-will-o-the-wisp/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“The gift of words, the source of enjoyment, the source of delight that comes within and the unfading beauty and energy of words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-gift-of-words-the-source-of-enjoyment-the-source-of-delight-that/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [All the world's bravery that delights our eyes is but thy several liveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/all-the-world-s-bravery-that-delights-our-eyes-is-but-thy-several/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Design should do the same thing in everyday life that art does when encountered: amaze us, scare us or delight us, but certainly open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-betsky/design-should-do-the-same-thing-in-everyday-life-that-art-does-when/) [Aaron Betsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-betsky/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Every natural power exhilarates; a true talent delights the possessor first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-natural-power-exhilarates-a-true-talent-delights-the-possessor/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we are to define science, ... it does not consist so much in knowing, nor even in "organized knowledge," as it does in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sanders-peirce/if-we-are-to-define-science-it-does-not-consist-so-much-in-knowing/) [Charles Sanders Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sanders-peirce/) > [Significantly, God in Genesis 1 pronounces the rest of creation "good" before humanity is created. The psalmist and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-clapp/significantly-god-in-genesis-1-pronounces-the-rest-of-creation-good/) [Rodney Clapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-clapp/) > [Being asked to play 'The Doctor' is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-capaldi/being-asked-to-play-the-doctor-is-an-amazing-privilege-like-the/) [Peter Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-capaldi/) [Browse all 2,212 Delight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Every day I see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight, that leaves me like a needle in the haystack of light. It was what I was born for - to look, to listen, to lose myself inside this soft world - to instruct myself over and over in joy, and acclamation. 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