May Sarton Quotes

I try not to think about anything special while running. As a matter of fact, I usually run with my mind empty. However, when I run empty-minded, something naturally and abruptly crawls in sometime. That might become an idea that can help me with my writing.

I write in my study, where I also have my prayer altar. I believe that keeps me focused and gives me positive energy and reminds me that I'm merely the instrument of greater creative forces.

Meditation has been a loyal friend to me. It has helped me write my books.

I don't meditate in any formal way, but I often lie in bed or find myself in nature and enter into that state of quiet where I get images, feelings, or melodies.

In silence, we are better able to listen to and understand ourselves; ideas come to birth and acquire depth... Deeper reflection helps us to discover the links between events that at first sight seem unconnected... For this to happen, it is necessary to develop an appropriate environment, a kind of 'eco-system' that maintains a just equilibrium between silence, words, images and sounds.

Sometimes it's better to just be quiet, to not think of anything at all. Out of silence comes the greatest creativity.

Inspiration is that state in which mind and heart are connected.

Great genius you already have. The super conscious mind is invariably triggered by definition, and by decisiveness.

When at the typewriter I am no longer where I site but am away across the mountains, in ancient cities or on the Great Plains among the buffalo. Often I think of what pitiful fools are those who use mind-altering drugs to seek feelings they do not have, each drug taking a little more from what they have of mind, leaving them a little less. Give the brain encouragement from study, from thinking, from visualizing, and no drugs are needed.

Where the heart is the mind works best.

Step off assuredly into the blank of your mind. Something will come to you.

When the mind is allowed to relax, inspiration often follows.

It is important that we have the inner richness to be able to look up at the stars or the moon and compose a poem once in a while. When we open wide our minds and fix our gaze on the universe, we fix our gaze on our own life.

I'm a long distance runner, and I get my best ideas when I'm out running. It also helps that I can't write it down immediately - if you hold onto an idea, other things will stick on it.

I don't generally listen to music while working, but sometimes music can help me get past minor writer's block.

I have my best ideas when I am alone.

I try to manage my day by my circadian rhythms because the creativity is such an elusive thing, and I could easily just stomp over it doing my administrative stuff.

Writing is a very focused form of meditation. Just as good as sitting in a lotus position.

I don't go in search of ideas; I try to let them find me.

Just as our eyes need light in order to see, our minds need ideas in order to conceive.

I'm never bored, never ever bored. If I've got a day off I'll sit in a cafe and watch and observe. I'm a great observer.

Most people have their best ideas when they take their minds away from problems they're trying to solve.

The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.

Although even when I am being idle I have plenty of food for thought both early and late - thoughts both about and not about art.

The thing about inspiration is that it takes your mind off everything else.