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93 Marianne Moore Quotes On Life, Existence & Consciousness

Famous As: Former modernist poet known for such witty works as "O To Be a Dragon" and "A Face.
Born On: November 15, 1887
Died On: February 5, 1972
Born In: Kirkwood, Missouri, United States
Died At Age: 84

One of the greatest poets known in the history of American literature, Marilyn Moore was renowned for her accurate phraseology, shrewdness and irony. She was known for her compilation of poems named Collected Poems, Poetry and The Complete Poems. Moore went on to win premier accolades such as National Book Award, Pulitzer Prize, Bollingen Prize and National Medal for Literature. A meticulous Presbyterian since childhood, she was strongly influenced by the Christian faith. She expected poets to create masterpieces through words that would produce imaginary gardens with real toads in them. Moore believed that poetry is a form of mastery and morality. Anything which is phrased poorly despite being in perfect form cannot be accepted as poetry. Many believed that her work cannot be stereotyped under a class of poetry. We have collected Moore’s quotes and thoughts from her poems, writings, and general observations about life, religion, society etc. Let us browse through some of the greatest lines by this witty poet, which will be remembered till eternity.

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Your thorns are the best part of you.

Your thorns are the best part of you.

Marianne Moore
... we
do not admire what
we cannot understand.

... we do not admire what we cannot understand.

Marianne Moore
The deepest feeling always shows itself in silence.

The deepest feeling always shows itself in silence.

Marianne Moore
The hands are the heart's messengers.

The hands are the heart's messengers.

Marianne Moore
The heart that gives, gathers.

The heart that gives, gathers.

Marianne Moore
If we can't be cordial to these creatures' fleece, I think that we deserve to freeze.

If we can't be cordial to these creatures' fleece, I think that we deserve to freeze.

Marianne Moore
I am hard to disgust, but a pretentious poet can do it

I am hard to disgust, but a pretentious poet can do it

Marianne Moore
There never was a war that was not inward.

There never was a war that was not inward.

Marianne Moore
Any writer overwhelmingly honest about pleasing himself is almost sure to please others.

Any writer overwhelmingly honest about pleasing himself is almost sure to please others.

Marianne Moore
The self does not realize itself most fully when self-realization is its most constant aim.

The self does not realize itself most fully when self-realization is its most constant aim.

Marianne Moore
Superior people never make long visits.

Superior people never make long visits.

Marianne Moore
Truly as the sun can rot or mend, love can make one bestial or make a beast a man.

Truly as the sun can rot or mend, love can make one bestial or make a beast a man.

Marianne Moore
The cure for loneliness is solitude.

The cure for loneliness is solitude.

Marianne Moore
You are not male or female, but a plan
deep-set within the heart of man.

You are not male or female, but a plan deep-set within the heart of man.

Marianne Moore
[Marianne Moore's definition of genuine poetry] -- Imaginary gardens with real toads in them.

[Marianne Moore's definition of genuine poetry] -- Imaginary gardens with real toads in them.

Marianne Moore
They fought the enemy, we fight fat living and self-pity. Shine, o shine, unfalsifying sun, on this sick scene.

They fought the enemy, we fight fat living and self-pity. Shine, o shine, unfalsifying sun, on this sick scene.

Marianne Moore
Poetry
...
... a place for the genuine,
Hands that can grasp, eyes
that can dilate, hair that can rise

Poetry ... ... a place for the genuine, Hands that can grasp, eyes that can dilate, hair that can rise

Marianne Moore
Words cluster like chromosomes, determining the procedure.

Words cluster like chromosomes, determining the procedure.

Marianne Moore
...discovering Antarctica, its penguin kings and icy spires...

...discovering Antarctica, its penguin kings and icy spires...

Marianne Moore
Omissions are not accidents.

Omissions are not accidents.

Marianne Moore
When they become so derivative as to become unintelligible, 
the same thing may be said for all of us, that we do not admire what we cannot understand.

When they become so derivative as to become unintelligible, the same thing may be said for all of us, that we do not admire what we cannot understand.

Marianne Moore
I, too, dislike it: there are things that are important beyond 
all this fiddle. 
Reading it, however, with a perfect contempt for it, one 
discovers in 
it after all, a place for the genuine.

I, too, dislike it: there are things that are important beyond all this fiddle. Reading it, however, with a perfect contempt for it, one discovers in it after all, a place for the genuine.

Marianne Moore
Yule—Yul log for the Christmas-fire tale-spinner—of fairy tales that can come true: Yul Brynner.

Yule—Yul log for the Christmas-fire tale-spinner—of fairy tales that can come true: Yul Brynner.

Marianne Moore
Poetry is the art of creating imaginary gardens with real toads.

Poetry is the art of creating imaginary gardens with real toads.

Marianne Moore
When one is frank, one's very presence is a compliment.

When one is frank, one's very presence is a compliment.

Marianne Moore
I must fight
Til I have conquered
In myself
what causes war

I must fight Til I have conquered In myself what causes war

Marianne Moore
I am governed by the pull of the sentence as the pull of fabric is governed by gravity.

I am governed by the pull of the sentence as the pull of fabric is governed by gravity.

Marianne Moore
I believe verbal felicity is the fruit of ardor, of diligence, and of refusing to be false.

I believe verbal felicity is the fruit of ardor, of diligence, and of refusing to be false.

Marianne Moore
Hate-hardened heart, O heart of iron, iron is iron till it is rust. There never was a war that was not inward;

Hate-hardened heart, O heart of iron, iron is iron till it is rust. There never was a war that was not inward;

Marianne Moore
One detects creative power by its capacity to conquer one's detachment.

One detects creative power by its capacity to conquer one's detachment.

Marianne Moore