“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

— Mary Oliver

"The Summer Day"
New and Selected Poems (1992)
Variant: What will you do with your one precious, wild life?
Source: New and Selected Poems, Vol. 1

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update Feb. 7, 2023. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" by Mary Oliver?

Mary Oliver98

American writer 1935–2019

Mary Oliver (1935–2019) American writer

“Life is a compromise of what your ego wants to do, what experience tells you to do, and what your nerves let you do.”

Walter Bagehot (1826–1877) British journalist, businessman, and essayist

“No one gets to tell you what your life means!”

Jess Walter book Beautiful Ruins

Source: Beautiful Ruins

“I knew you wanted to tell me;
In your voice there was something wrong.
But if you would turn your face away from me,
You cannot tell me you're so strong.
Just let me ask of you one small thing.
As we have shared so many tears,
With fervor our dreams we planned a whole life long
Now are scattered on the wind…”

Sarah McLachlan (1968) Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter

The Path of Thorns
Song lyrics, Solace (1992)

“What have you done, you standing there
In floods of tears?
Tell me what you have done
With your young life?”

Paul Verlaine (1844–1896) French poet

Qu'as-tu fait, ô toi que voilà
Pleurant sans cesse,
Dis, qu'as-tu fait, toi que voilà
De ta jeunesse?
"Le ciel est, par-dessus le toit", line 13, from Sagesse (1880); Sorrell p. 111

“Tell me something about your life, ‘he said. ‘My life?’ the rickshaw-wallah asked. ‘I do not have one.”

Neamat Imam book The Black Coat

The Black Coat (2013)

“If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.”

Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American motivational speaker

“Tell me of a happy memory, Zarek. One thing in your life that was good. (Astrid)
You. (Zarek)”

Sherrilyn Kenyon book Dance with the Devil

Source: Dance with the Devil

“Love what you do and do what you love. Don't listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it. You do what you want, what you love. Imagination should be the center of your life.”

Ray Bradbury (1920–2012) American writer

“Look into my eyes, you will see
What you mean to me.
Search your heart, search your soul.
And when you find me there,
You’ll search no more.Don’t tell me it’s not worth trying for.
You can’t tell me it’s not worth dying for.
You know it’s true,
Everything I do, I do it for you.”

Bryan Adams (1959) Canadian singer-songwriter

(Everything I Do) I Do It for You, written by Bryan Adams, Mutt Lange, and Michael Kamen
Song lyrics, Waking Up the Neighbours (1991)

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Mary Oliver98

Related quotes

Related topics