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Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Quotes

Powerful Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings for Daily Growth

About Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (1896-1953) was an American novelist and short story writer, best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "The Yearling" (1938). Born on August 8, 1896, in Washington D.C., Rawlings spent most of her childhood in Jacksonville, Florida. Her love for nature and the rural South was deeply influenced by these formative years. Rawlings' writing career began with a series of travel articles published in the Miami Herald under the pseudonym 'Marjorie Kinnan'. In 1935, she purchased a small citrus farm in Cross Creek, Florida, which would serve as the setting for many of her future works. This remote location allowed her to immerse herself in the local culture and wildlife, providing fertile ground for her vivid storytelling. "The Yearling" was Rawlings' first and most successful novel. The story revolves around a young boy named Jody and his relationship with a pet deer. Set in the early 1900s in the Florida backwoods, it captures the harsh realities of life while maintaining a deep sense of nostalgia. Following the success of "The Yearling", Rawlings published several other works set in Cross Creek, including "South Moon Under" (1941) and "Cross Creek" (1942), a semi-autobiographical account of her life on the farm. Despite her success, Rawlings remained modest, often stating that she was simply "a writer who lives in the country." Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings died on December 14, 1953, in Gainesville, Florida. Her works continue to be celebrated for their rich portrayal of rural Florida life and her profound connection with nature. Today, Cross Creek is a Florida State Park and a National Historic Landmark, honoring the legacy of this remarkable author.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The land was rich and fat with life, and she wanted to bite into it, to eat her fill and wallow in the warmth of it."

This quote by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings suggests a deep connection and longing for the natural world. The speaker desires not just to observe or touch the land, but to fully immerse herself in it – to consume its richness, nourish her being, and bask in its vitality. It's a sentiment of intense appreciation and craving for the earth's life-giving resources and the warmth it provides.

"Life is hard but it is all life we need."

This quote from Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings emphasizes the inherent difficulty in life, yet encourages acceptance and appreciation for every moment. Life's challenges are inevitable, but they make up our shared human experience, and finding meaning and purpose within them is what makes life worth living. In essence, she suggests that no matter how difficult life gets, it is all we have, and embracing it fully is crucial to living a fulfilling life.

"There are no friendships but those that are made upon the field of interest."

This quote suggests that meaningful friendships can only be built on a shared foundation or mutual interest. It implies that superficial bonds may form due to coincidence, circumstance, or convenience, but these connections lack depth when there is no common ground or passion to sustain them over time. A friendship forged through a shared interest provides a strong foundation upon which a lasting relationship can be built, as both parties have something in common that fosters understanding and connection. The quote underscores the importance of nurturing friendships based on genuine connections and mutual passions to ensure their longevity.

"In the silence of the swamp, one could hear the beating of wings and the breathing of alligators."

This quote emphasizes the immersive, primal tranquility of a swamp environment, where nature's most powerful creatures - birds (symbolizing freedom) and alligators (representing raw, untamed power) - coexist harmoniously, their existence being palpable through the rhythmic sound of their movements. It suggests an atmosphere rich in both life and mystery, inviting the reader to appreciate the symphony of nature's sounds as a testament to its resilience and complexity.

"The trees stood about like silent sentinels, guarding their secrets against the world which would never understand them."

This quote conveys a sense of mystery and profound wisdom hidden within nature. The "silent sentinels" symbolize natural elements (trees) that stand strong and enduring, silently bearing the weight of time and secrets unknowable to us. Rawlings suggests that these secrets are not meant for human understanding or interpretation, reminding us of our limited perspective in contrast to the vast, complex universe around us. It's a call to appreciate nature's beauty while acknowledging our human limitations in comprehending its deeper mysteries.

A part of the placidity of the South comes from the sense of well-being that follows the heart-and-body-warming consumption of breads fresh from the oven. We serve cold baker's bread to our enemies, trusting that they will never impose on our hospitality again.

- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Cold, Part, South, Impose

I can only tell you that when long soul-searching and a combination of circumstances delivered me of my last prejudices, there was an exalted sense of liberation. It was not the Negro who became free, but I.

- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Last, Prejudices, Became, Liberation

When a wave of love takes over a human being... such an exaltation takes him that he knows he has put his finger on the pulse of the great secret and the great answer.

- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Love, Over, Finger, Pulse

The individual man is transitory, but the pulse of life and of growth goes on after he is gone, buried under a wreath of magnolia leaves.

- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Goes, Individual, Buried, Pulse

We need above all, I think, a certain remoteness from urban confusion.

- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Think, I Think, Urban, Confusion

No man should have proprietary rights over land who does not use that land wisely and lovingly.

- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Over, Proprietary, Lovingly, Wisely

Writing is agony for me. I work at it eight hours every day, hoping to get six pages, but I am satisfied with three.

- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Work, Hours, Six, Hoping

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