The frail, vulnerable sounds of which we are capable seem to be essential to a later ability to roar like a lion without scaring everyone to death. David Whyte abilitycapabledeath Change image and share on social
Regret is a short, evocative and achingly beautiful word: an elegy to lost possibilities even in its brief annunciation. David Whyte achinglyannunciationbeautiful Change image and share on social
Things have a way of being richer in the end, a product better made, for the circuitous route we take to include all the elements that are necessary for a job well done. David Whyte circuitouselementend Change image and share on social
It is difficult to be creative and enthusiastic about anything for which we do not feel affection. David Whyte affectioncreativedifficult Change image and share on social
There are millions of people living Thoreau's life of quiet desperation, and they do not have the language to escape from that desperation. David Whyte desperationescapelanguage Change image and share on social
Poetry is often the art of overhearing yourself say things you didn't know you knew. It is a learned skill to force yourself to articulate your life, your present world or your possibilities for the future. David Whyte artarticulateforce share on social
To regret fully is to appreciate how high the stakes are in even the average human life; fully experienced, it turns our eyes, attentive and alert, to a future possibly lived better than our past. David Whyte alertattentiveaverage Change image and share on social
Sincere regret may be a faculty for paying attention to the future, for sensing a new tide where we missed a previous one, for experiencing timelessness with a grandchild where we neglected a boy of our own. David Whyte attentionboyexperience share on social
To admit regret is to understand that we are fallible - that there are powers beyond us. To admit regret is to lose control not only of a difficult past but of the very story we tell about our present. To admit sincere and abiding regret is one of our greatest but unspoken contemporary sins. David Whyte abideadmitcontemporary share on social
Honesty allows us to live with not knowing. We do not know the full story; we do not know where we are in the story. We do not know who, ultimately, is at fault or who will carry the blame in the end. David Whyte blamecarryend Change image and share on social