quotations about morning
Daylight appears just about to rise
To its feet, like a guest
Who's sat all night
Keeping time to lively music.
TRACY K. SMITH
"Serenade"
Hope is a renewable option: If you run out of it at the end of the day, you get to start over in the morning.
BARBARA KINGSOLVER
attributed, Wisdom for the Soul: Five Millennia of Prescriptions for Spiritual Healing
Of all the things we fashioned for them that they might be comforted, dawn is the one that works. When darkness sifts from the air like fine soft soot and light spreads slowly out of the east then all but the most wretched of humankind rally.
JOHN BANVILLE
The Infinities
When Dawn strides out to wake a dewy farm
Across green fields and yellow hills of hay
The little twittering birds laugh in his way
And poise triumphant on his shining arm.
He bears a sword of flame but not to harm
The wakened life that feels his quickening sway
And barnyard voices shrilling "It is day!"
Take by his grace a new and alien charm.
But in the city, like a wounded thing
That limps to cover from the angry chase,
He steals down streets where sickly arc-lights sing,
And wanly mock his young and shameful face;
And tiny gongs with cruel fervor ring
In many a high and dreary sleeping place.
JOYCE KILMER
"Alarm Clocks"
Dawn has power to fertilise the most matter-of-fact vision.
JOHN GALSWORTHY
The Forsyte Saga
In the early morning on the lake sitting in the stern of the boat with his father rowing, he felt quite sure that he would never die.
ERNEST HEMINGWAY
In Our Time
Morning has broken,
Like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken
Like the first bird.
Praise for the singing!
Praise for the morning!
Praise for them springing
Fresh from the Word!
ELEANOR FARJEON
"Morning Has Broken"
Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day
Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Romeo and Juliet
Now morn, her rosy steps in th' eastern clime
Advancing, sow'd the earth with Orient pearl.
JOHN MILTON
Paradise Lost
Rise early, that by habit it may become familiar, agreeable, healthy, and profitable. It may, for a while, be irksome to do this, but that will wear off; and the practice will produce a rich harvest forever thereafter; whether in public or private walks of life.
GEORGE WASHINGTON
letter to George Washington Parke Custis, January 7, 1798
The grey-ey'd morn smiles on the frowning night,
Chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Romeo and Juliet
The last dreams dance like shadows on the walls, and the morning is like a slow fish emerging from the seabed.
ALEX MANLY
Their Strange Moves: Vendor of Illusions
Dawn, thy opportunity is full! We, alas, know not the meaning of thy gorgeous page. Dazed we watch thy letters pale; cold embers, left upon the sky; Life's opportunity flickering into naught.
ELISE PUMPELLY CABOT
"Arizona"
Enormous morning, ponderous, meticulous;
gray light streaking each bare branch,
each single twig, along one side,
making another tree, of glassy veins.
ELIZABETH BISHOP
"Five Flights Up"
The longest way must have its close--the gloomiest night will wear on to a morning.
HARRIET BEECHER STOWE
Uncle Tom's Cabin
The morning lit, the birds arose;
The monster's faded eyes
Turned slowly to his native coast,
And peace was Paradise!
EMILY DICKINSON
"A Tempest"
There are few of us that are not rather ashamed of our sins and follies as we look out on the blessed morning sunlight, which comes to us like a bright-winged angel beckoning us to quit the old path of vanity that stretches its dreary length behind us.
GEORGE ELIOT
Mr. Gilfil's Love Story
This was not judgement day -- only morning. Morning: excellent and fair.
WILLIAM STYRON
Sophie's Choice
When darkness sifts from the air like fine soft soot and light spreads slowly out of the east then all but the most wretched of humankind rally.
JOHN BANVILLE
The Infinities
I want to live my life in such a way that when I get out of bed in the morning, the devil says, "aw shit, he's up!"
STEVE MARABOLI
Unapologetically You