Mary Gordon Quotes

Powerful Mary Gordon for Daily Growth

About Mary Gordon

Mary Gordon is an acclaimed American novelist, essayist, and academic, renowned for her profound explorations of identity, faith, and family dynamics in her literary works. Born on July 18, 1949, in New York City to Irish immigrants, Gordon's early life was marked by a deep appreciation for literature and the Catholic Church, two themes that would later permeate her writing. Gordon attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart, a prestigious all-girls school in New York City, before studying at Barnard College where she graduated magna cum laude. After earning her Master's degree from Columbia University, Gordon embarked on an illustriive academic career, teaching at various institutions including Vassar College, Yale University, and the City University of New York. In 1980, Gordon published her first novel, "Final Payments," a semi-autobiographical work that explored themes of identity, loss, and faith within an Irish-Catholic family. The novel was met with critical acclaim and established Gordon as a promising new voice in American literature. Throughout her career, Gordon has penned numerous works of fiction, including "Circles of Light," "Men and Angels," and "Pearl," for which she was nominated for the National Book Award. In addition to her novels, Gordon is known for her powerful essays, many of which are collected in "The Sudden Weight of Snow: Reflections on Life, Death, and the Conundrums of Family." Gordon's works often delve into complex issues of faith, identity, and the human condition, reflecting both her personal experiences and her deep intellectual curiosity. Her writing continues to resonate with readers, making her one of America's most important contemporary authors.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"We can't go back and change the beginning, but we can start where we are and change the ending."

The quote emphasizes resilience and the power of taking control over one's own life. It suggests that we cannot undo past mistakes or circumstances (go back and change the beginning), but we do have the ability to make positive changes starting from where we are currently (change the ending). This message inspires hope, encouraging people to focus on the present and future rather than dwelling on the past, and to strive for personal growth and better outcomes.

"Love is not a relationship between a man and a woman or between two people. Love is a force of nature like gravity, electricity or magnetism."

This quote by Mary Gordon suggests that love transcends traditional definitions as a bond between two individuals (man and woman), instead positing it as an innate, universal force comparable to natural phenomena such as gravity, electricity, and magnetism. In this perspective, love is a powerful, immutable, and essential element that binds entities together, whether they are people, objects, or concepts. This view emphasizes the pervasive and fundamental nature of love in all aspects of existence, underscoring its significance beyond interpersonal relationships.

"If we could see the future, we would all live more fully in the present."

This quote emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment because if we knew what the future held, we might become overly focused on it, neglecting the richness and experiences that the current time offers us. By focusing on the present, we are fully engaged with our lives, making the most out of each moment and appreciating its unique qualities, rather than constantly anticipating or worrying about what may come next.

"Everyone carries with them at least one story that is so deeply personal it remains untold."

This quote suggests that each individual harbors a unique, intimate narrative that they have yet to share publicly. These stories are often closely connected to the person's identity, experiences, or emotions, making them too sensitive or complex to be easily expressed. They serve as personal milestones, shaping the individual's life in significant ways, and remain a part of their inner world. The untold nature of these stories may stem from fear, shame, privacy, or simply because they are so deeply felt that words can't adequately convey their essence.

"The heart that has loved, can seldom forget; but fortunately, it is never required to remember."

This quote suggests that the capacity to love deeply leaves an indelible mark on our hearts, which often makes us remember the experience of love, but not necessarily the specific details associated with it. The "forgotten" part refers to the passage of time or change in circumstances obliterating the need for recollection of certain memories, as their emotional resonance continues to linger. In essence, the quote emphasizes that while we may forget the trivial aspects of past loves, the profound impact they have on us is something we can never truly erase from our hearts.

Everything that turned out well for me seems like a fluke. I feel like, at any moment, I could lose everything and be working at Dunkin' Donuts.

- Mary Gordon

Like, Could, Turned, Donuts

My father's politics and ideas were, to me, unforgivable. He was a Jewish convert who became very anti-Semitic, and I didn't find the anti-Semitism forgivable.

- Mary Gordon

Politics, Very, Became, Convert

'Catholic writer' seems like you have an agenda of evangelization, as if you were somehow influenced in your choice of perspective by dogma or canon law. That has nothing to do with me. I don't have a lot in common with other 'Catholic' writers.

- Mary Gordon

Other, Influenced, Your, Canon

I wasn't thinking about my pension plan until about two years ago. When I was in my twenties, the idea that you'd be thinking of taking a job based on its health-care policy was completely foreign. But these days young people are thinking about these things.

- Mary Gordon

Young, Idea, About, Pension

If the moral good of fiction stems mainly from a habit of mind it inculcates in the reader, styles are neither good nor bad, and to describe some fictional enterprises as false is pointless.

- Mary Gordon

Mind, Some, Stems, Fictional

Waiting is the great vocation of the dispossessed.

- Mary Gordon

Great, Waiting, Vocation, Dispossessed

Feminism is very much a part of a lot of my student's lives, but they're not going to march about it or take a public political stance. And I think more and more young women are claiming that they're not feminists - even though they are.

- Mary Gordon

Student, I Think, Very, Women Are

I believe that if your primary motivation in life is to be moral, you don't become an artist.

- Mary Gordon

Motivation, Believe, Artist, Primary

It was actually a women's writing group I belonged to in graduate school that gave me the courage to move from poetry to fiction.

- Mary Gordon

Courage, Fiction, Move, Graduate School

I love dancing; I adore salsa dancing and wish I could be in a Broadway chorus.

- Mary Gordon

Love, Dancing, Wish, Chorus

I could not write without my dog, Rhoda, a Lab-chow mix.

- Mary Gordon

Dog, Write, Could, Mix

I don't have any great first job tales: I've never worked on a tramp steamer or in a coal mine or anything like that. I think the inspiration for my writing came largely from my father and the joy that life in books represented to me.

- Mary Gordon

Father, Inspiration, I Think, Tramp

My mother really loved me. And one of the gifts that I have been given is that I have never thought for one second of my life that I was not greatly beloved.

- Mary Gordon

My Life, Been, Given, Greatly

In my early life, I was a professional folk singer. I used to sing on the national television and radio in Canada. Nobody knows that - but now I've said it, haven't I? I'm strictly a shower singer at the minute.

- Mary Gordon

Shower, Singer, Used, Folk Singer

One should never be sexually involved with anyone one genuinely cares for. A sexual relationship guarantees a loss.

- Mary Gordon

Loss, Never, Cares, Guarantees

I think coldness is chic among writers, and particularly ironic coldness. What is absolutely not allowable is sadness. People will do anything rather than to acknowledge that they are sad.

- Mary Gordon

Think, I Think, Particularly, Coldness

My favorite dish is bibimbap, which is composed of various vegetables, steamed and pickled, and meat toppings over a bed of rice.

- Mary Gordon

Bed, Over, Which, Meat

My weakness is 'American Idol.' My husband thinks it's ridiculous. But I am so inspired by those young people who are singing their guts out.

- Mary Gordon

Singing, Young, Idol, Guts

My father died when I was seven. I guess I am interested in fatherlessness as a metaphor for vulnerability and unprotectedness. Being on your own in the world in a way you're not quite ready for, ever.

- Mary Gordon

Father, Own, Seven, Ready

I would trade any writerly success if it would mean my children would be happy.

- Mary Gordon

Children, Trade, Would, Be Happy

We all of us deserve happiness or none of us does.

- Mary Gordon

Happiness, Does, None, Deserve

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