Dan Quisenberry Quotes

Powerful Dan Quisenberry for Daily Growth

About Dan Quisenberry

Dan Quisenberry (1950-2016), an American poet and educator, was born in Topeka, Kansas on August 31, 1950. Growing up in a family of modest means, he developed a love for literature at an early age, often visiting the local library to read works beyond his formal education. Quisenberry earned his Bachelor's degree from Washburn University and later completed his Master's and Doctoral degrees from the University of Kansas. He was influenced by contemporary poets such as Robert Bly, Galway Kinnell, and James Wright, incorporating their free-verse style into his own work. Quisenberry's writing explores themes of nature, memory, and the human condition. His first collection, "The Waking Town" (1983), won the Walt McDonald First Book Award from Texas Tech University Press. This book was followed by numerous other collections, including "Songs for an Aging Lovers" (1986), "Invisible Constellations" (1990), and "The Blue House: New & Selected Poems" (2005). Quisenberry taught creative writing at various institutions throughout his career, including the University of Kansas, where he served as a professor for many years. He was also the editor of "Sou'wester", a literary magazine based in Lincoln City, Oregon. In 1987, Quisenberry was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship. His work has appeared in prestigious journals such as The New Yorker, Poetry, and The Atlantic Monthly. Dan Quisenberry passed away on March 25, 2016, leaving behind a significant body of work that continues to resonate with readers today. Quotes from Dan Quisenberry often reflect his deep appreciation for the beauty in everyday life: "The world is full of miracles waiting to be discovered...all we have to do is pay attention" and "We are made of stardust, and we should remember that when the night grows dark."

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I've learned that if you really want something in life, you have to go out and get it."

This quote emphasizes personal responsibility and initiative in achieving one's goals. It suggests that desire alone is not enough; one must actively pursue what they want in life and take action towards its realization. In other words, if something truly matters to you, it's up to you to make the necessary efforts to attain it. This idea underscores the importance of self-motivation, persistence, and resilience in the pursuit of dreams and aspirations.

"Pitching is a very fragile thing. It's like hitting or any other skill: The more success you have, the more people expect from you."

This quote by Dan Quisenberry highlights the delicate nature of pitching in sports, but it also applies to various aspects of life. The more skilled or successful one becomes, the higher the expectations placed upon them. This can lead to increased pressure, as success breeds expectations that may be unrealistic or unsustainable. It serves as a reminder that maintaining performance under such heightened expectations is indeed a fragile endeavor and requires resilience, self-awareness, and adaptability.

"The secret of pitching is throwing strikes."

Dan Quisenberry's quote, "The secret of pitching is throwing strikes," emphasizes the importance of accuracy in pitching. In any sport that involves a ball being pitched or thrown, hitting the target consistently increases the chances of success for the team. This quote underscores that mastering the fundamental skill of pitching, which is delivering the ball accurately within the strike zone, is essential for a pitcher to excel in their role and contribute significantly to the team's victory.

"You can't predict baseball. You can only prepare for it."

Dan Quisenberry's quote, "You can't predict baseball. You can only prepare for it," underscores the unpredictable nature of the sport. It suggests that despite the best efforts to analyze statistics, study opponents, or follow patterns, the outcome in baseball is often uncertain. Instead, the focus should be on being as well-prepared as possible - mastering skills, understanding strategies, and maintaining physical fitness. This mindset allows players and teams to adapt quickly to unexpected situations, ultimately increasing their chances of success.

"I've always believed that the most important thing a coach can do is to make his players believe in themselves, and I always wanted my players to know they could count on me."

This quote highlights the significance of instilling self-belief in team members by coaches or leaders. Dan Quisenberry emphasizes that belief in oneself is crucial for success, and he aspires to be a source of confidence and support for his players. By building trust and faith in their abilities, he empowers them to perform at their best, knowing they can rely on him when faced with challenges. This not only enhances individual performance but also fosters team unity and resilience.

I lull them into a false sense of security by watching me pitch... If overconfidence can cause the Roman Empire to fall, I ought to be able to get a ground ball.

- Dan Quisenberry

False, Roman Empire, Roman, Lull

A manager uses a relief pitcher like a six shooter, he fires until it's empty then takes the gun and throws it at the villain.

- Dan Quisenberry

Villain, Gun, Six, Fires

Coming into a game in the eighth or ninth inning is like parachuting behind enemy lines. And sometimes the chute doesn't open. You have to live with that. It's an occupational hazard.

- Dan Quisenberry

Game, Behind, Like, Occupational

I don't mean to diminish the job, it's a good job and a real pressure job. But I don't think a relief pitcher should ever be the most valuable player of a league. We only play in maybe half of the games. Being a relief pitcher means part-time employment. We're bench players, and bench players shouldn't be M.V.P.

- Dan Quisenberry

Play, Maybe, Half, Part-Time

I'm probably the only relief pitcher who has more saves than strikeouts.

- Dan Quisenberry

More, Than, Saves, Relief

Preschoolers have a way of grabbing your attention. Mine help me not to be a baseball player at home.

- Dan Quisenberry

Help, Baseball Player, Mine, Grabbing

If overconfidence can cause the Roman Empire to fall, I ought to be able to get a ground ball.

- Dan Quisenberry

Roman Empire, Roman, Cause, Ought

Reggie Jackson hit one off me that's still burrowing its way to Los Angeles.

- Dan Quisenberry

Off, Still, Angeles, Los Angeles

I've seen the future and it's much like the present only longer.

- Dan Quisenberry

Future, Like, Longer, Present

Our fielders have to catch a lot of balls, or at least deflect them to someone who can.

- Dan Quisenberry

Someone, Balls, Lot, Catch

Someone told me just recently that poets are eulogists. It's their job, to eulogize. I didn't know that, but it makes sense. Because in almost every poem of mine there is a loss.

- Dan Quisenberry

Mine, Almost, Recently, Poets

Most pitchers fear losing their fastball, but since I don't have one, I have nothing to fear but fear itself.

- Dan Quisenberry

Most, Pitchers, Itself, Fastball

The best thing about baseball is there's no homework.

- Dan Quisenberry

Best, Homework, About, Baseball

Every year the World Series should go seven games for the dramatics of it.

- Dan Quisenberry

World, Year, Series, World Series

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