Theodore Roethke Quotes

Quotes about:

Bones Desire Dying Eyes Heart Joy Madness

Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light.

Theodore Roethke

Nature, Attitude, Flower

Theodore Roethke (2006). “Straw for the Fire: From the Notebooks of Theodore Roethke, 1943-63”, p.40, Copper Canyon Press

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What we need is more people who specialize in the impossible.

Theodore Roethke

Inspirational, Faith, Teaching

Theodore Roethke, Carolyn Kizer (2013). “On Poetry and Craft: Selected Prose”, p.93, Copper Canyon Press

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In a dark time, the mind begins to see.

Theodore Roethke

Dark, Mind, Dark Times

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Over every mountain there is a path, although it may not be seen from the valley.

Theodore Roethke

Failure, Adversity, Wrestling

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Those who are willing to be vulnerable move among mysteries.

Theodore Roethke

Moving, Religion, Gardening

Theodore Roethke (2006). “Straw for the Fire: From the Notebooks of Theodore Roethke, 1943-63”, p.179, Copper Canyon Press

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Be sure that whatever you are is you.

Theodore Roethke

Theodore Roethke (2011). “The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke”, p.251, Anchor

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May my silences become more accurate.

Theodore Roethke

Silence, May, Accuracy

Theodore Roethke, Carolyn Kizer (2013). “On Poetry and Craft: Selected Prose”, p.95, Copper Canyon Press

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Art is the means we have of undoing the damage of haste. It's what everything else isn't.

Theodore Roethke

Art, Mean, Haste

Theodore Roethke, Carolyn Kizer (2013). “On Poetry and Craft: Selected Prose”, p.123, Copper Canyon Press

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The darkness has it's own light.

Theodore Roethke

Light, Darkness

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Live in a perpetual great astonishment.

Theodore Roethke

Astonishment, Perpetual

Theodore Roethke (2006). “Straw for the Fire: From the Notebooks of Theodore Roethke, 1943-63”, p.175, Copper Canyon Press

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How body from spirit slowly does unwind, until we are pure spirit at the end.

Theodore Roethke

Doe, Body, Spirit

Theodore Roethke (2011). “The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke”, p.350, Anchor

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I teach my sighs to lengthen into songs.

Theodore Roethke

Song, Teach, Sigh

Theodore Roethke (2011). “The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke”, p.196, Anchor

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And soon a branch, part of a hidden scene,The leafy mind, that long was tightly furled,Will turn its private substance into green,And young shoots spread upon our inner world.

Theodore Roethke

Long, Mind, Substance

Theodore Roethke (2011). “The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke”, p.28, Anchor

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I learn by going where I have to go.

Theodore Roethke

Education, Learning, Character

The Waking (1953) p. 120

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I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. I feel my fate in what I cannot fear. I learn by going where I have to go.

Theodore Roethke

Fear, Learning, Sleep

The Waking (1953) p. 120

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The visible exhausts me. I am dissolved in shadow.

Theodore Roethke

Shadow, Visible

Theodore Roethke (2006). “Straw for the Fire: From the Notebooks of Theodore Roethke, 1943-63”, p.150, Copper Canyon Press

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A mind too active is no mind at all.

Theodore Roethke

Intelligence, Intuition, Mind

Theodore Roethke, William J. Martz (1966). “The achievement of Theodore Roethke: a comprehensive selection of his poems”

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What is madness but nobility of soul at odds with circumstance?

Theodore Roethke

Positive, Positivity, Odds

Theodore Roethke (2011). “The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke”, p.341, Anchor

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When I go mad,
I call my friends by phone:
I am afraid they might think
they're alone.

Theodore Roethke

Thinking, Phones, Mad

Theodore Roethke (2006). “Straw for the Fire: From the Notebooks of Theodore Roethke, 1943-63”, p.79, Copper Canyon Press

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Time marks us while we are marking time.

Theodore Roethke

Death, Suicide, Mark

Theodore Roethke (2006). “Straw for the Fire: From the Notebooks of Theodore Roethke, 1943-63”, p.188, Copper Canyon Press

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By daily dying, I have come to be.

Theodore Roethke

Philosophy, Philosophical, Dying

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I am overwhelmed by the beautiful disorder of poetry, the eternal virginity of words.

Theodore Roethke

Beautiful, Overwhelmed, Disorder

Theodore Roethke (2001). “On Poetry and Craft: Selected Prose of Theodore Roethke”, p.203, Copper Canyon Press

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Love is not love until love's vulnerable.

Theodore Roethke

Love, Relationship, Vulnerable

Theodore Roethke (2011). “The Collected Poems of Theodore Roethke”, p.177, Anchor

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Wake the happy words.

Theodore Roethke

Crafts

Theodore Roethke, Carolyn Kizer (2013). “On Poetry and Craft: Selected Prose”, p.153, Copper Canyon Press

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A lively understandable spirit Once entertained you. It will come again. Be still. Wait.

Theodore Roethke

Inspirational, Waiting, Spirit

Theodore Roethke, Carolyn Kizer (2013). “On Poetry and Craft: Selected Prose”, p.13, Copper Canyon Press

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Born: May 25, 1908
Died: August 1, 1963
Occupation: Poet
Cite this Page: Citation

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