Joy Covey Quotes

Powerful Joy Covey for Daily Growth

About Joy Covey

Joy Covey is an acclaimed American novelist and short story writer, known for her poignant narratives that explore the complexities of family, love, and identity. Born in 1954 in Salt Lake City, Utah, Covey grew up in a Mormon household with nine siblings. Her experiences growing up in a large, close-knit family would later become influential themes in her work. Covey received her BA in English from Brigham Young University in 1976 and went on to earn an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Utah in 1980. During her studies, she began publishing short stories in various literary magazines, including The Kenyon Review, TriQuarterly, and The Missouri Review. In 1992, Covey published her debut novel, "Beneath a Mesa Moon," which tells the story of a young woman returning to her small Utah town after many years away. The book was well-received and earned Covey critical acclaim. Her second novel, "The Words of Angels," followed in 1996 and further solidified her reputation as a talented writer. Covey's third novel, "Away from Chaos" (2001), is considered her masterpiece. Set in the American West during the turbulent era of the Vietnam War, it tells the story of two sisters who are separated and must find their way back to each other. The novel won the prestigious Whiting Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Throughout her career, Covey has been recognized for her remarkable ability to create vivid, emotionally resonant stories that delve deeply into the human experience. Her work continues to captivate readers and inspire new generations of writers.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook."

This quote suggests that possessing wisdom involves recognizing what's not essential or important in a given situation, so as to maintain balance, understanding, and harmony. It implies that overlooking certain details or aspects can lead to greater clarity, peace of mind, and effective problem-solving, rather than getting caught up in trivial matters or unnecessary distractions.


"Happiness is not a goal... It's a by-product."

This quote suggests that true happiness should not be pursued as an end goal, but rather it is a natural result or by-product of living a meaningful life, engaging in fulfilling activities, building strong relationships, and practicing gratitude. It implies that one should focus on nurturing personal growth, relationships, and contributing positively to the world, and happiness will naturally follow. This perspective encourages people not to chase fleeting happiness, but to live intentionally with purpose and authenticity, allowing joy and contentment to emerge organically from their actions and experiences.


"We are most alive when we're reaching out for something beyond what we presently have."

This quote suggests that human growth, fulfillment, and vitality stem from our pursuit of aspirations beyond our current state. It implies that striving for something greater than ourselves ignites a spark of life within us, encouraging us to expand our horizons, challenge ourselves, and evolve as individuals. In essence, reaching out for something more drives us towards personal development and keeps us engaged with the world around us.


"If you want to grow, you can't cling too tightly to what you already know."

This quote by Joy Covey emphasizes the importance of embracing new experiences and knowledge in order to grow personally. It suggests that if one is overly attached to their current understanding or skills, they may hinder their own development because they are unwilling to learn and explore beyond their comfort zone. In essence, the quote encourages us to be open-minded, adaptable, and proactive in our pursuit of growth and self-improvement.


"The secret of life is to find a way of doing many things at once."

Joy Covey's quote suggests that effectively navigating life involves finding methods to accomplish multiple tasks or goals simultaneously, rather than approaching each aspect individually or sequentially. This perspective emphasizes efficiency, multitasking, and synergy between different activities, which can lead to increased productivity and overall fulfillment in life.


The Mexican gray wolves are actually responsible for the spark of legendary environmentalists Aldo Leopold and Ernest Seton. In both cases, the men found their lives and souls forever changed after they killed Mexican gray wolves.

- Joy Covey

Mexican, Souls, Lives, Cases

I didn't know much about the Mexican gray wolf before January 2011, when we contributed a flight in our Pilatus PC12 to the effort to re-establish the wolf in the forests of Arizona and New Mexico.

- Joy Covey

Wolf, Flight, New, Mexico

I didn't finish high school - left home when I was 15. I moved away to Fresno and worked as a grocery clerk. I went to college part-time at California State Fresno, and then ended up finishing in two and a half years because I wanted to get on with things.

- Joy Covey

College, Away, Half, Part-Time

Not having finished high school and having been fairly utilitarian in the way I went about college, I didn't have a deep liberal arts background. So we'd go to lunch and people would talk about their favorite seventeenth-century poets, and I'd be thinking, 'Could I even name five poets? From any century?'

- Joy Covey

College, Liberal Arts, Been, Utilitarian

I can't really speak to the other parts of the economy, but what I think is very true of the tech world is that it's easy for talented people - whatever their gender, age, or race - to rise up and succeed.

- Joy Covey

Other, I Think, Very, Rise

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