Marilynne Robinson Quotes

A collection of quotes by Marilynne Robinson.

Marilynne Robinson is an acclaimed American novelist and essayist born on November 26, 1943, in Sandpoint, Idaho. She is best known for her profound and meticulously crafted works that explore religious, political, and moral themes. Robinson's writing often delves into the complexities of human nature and the intersections of faith and literature.

Robinson's debut novel, "Housekeeping," was published in 1980 and received critical acclaim for its lyrical prose and introspective narrative. The book follows the lives of two young orphans, Ruth and Lucille, as they navigate their unconventional upbringing in a small Idaho town. "Housekeeping" established Robinson as a powerful voice in contemporary literature, earning her a dedicated following.

However, it was Robinson's subsequent novel, "Gilead" (2004), that brought her widespread recognition and acclaim. The book tells the story of an aging Congregationalist minister, John Ames, who writes a letter to his young son, chronicling his family's history, love, and the nature of existence. "Gilead" earned Robinson numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2005.

Robinson continued to write insightful and thought-provoking novels, including "Home" (2008) and "Lila" (2014), exploring the lives of characters in the fictional town of Gilead. Apart from her fiction writing, she has also published several collections of essays that examine religion, democracy, and the American experience.

Marilynne Robinson's intellectually engaging and emotionally profound works have cemented her status as one of the most respected and influential contemporary American writers. Her contributions to literature have garnered numerous awards and accolades, securing her a prominent place in the canon of American literature.

You see how it is godlike to love the being of someone. Your

You see how it is godlike to love the being of someone. Your existence is a delight to us. I hope you never have to long for a child as I did, but oh, what a splendid thing it has been that you came finally, and what a blessing to enjoy you now for almost seven years.

Marilynne Robinson


There's so much to be grateful for, words are poor things.

There's so much to be grateful for, words are poor things.

Marilynne Robinson

Faith Inspirational

Theologians talk about a prevenient grace that precedes grac

Theologians talk about a prevenient grace that precedes grace itself and allows us to accept it. I think there must also be a prevenient courage that allows us to be brave - that is, to acknowledge that there is more beauty than our eyes can bear, that precious things have been put into our hands and to do nothing to honor them is to do great harm. And therefore, this courage allows us, as the old men said, to make ourselves useful. It allows us to be generous, which is another way of saying exactly the same thing.

Marilynne Robinson

Life Beauty Love Courage Kindness Grace Giving Generous Stewardship Brave

That's the strangest thing about this life, about being in t

That's the strangest thing about this life, about being in the ministry. People change the subject when they see you coming. And then sometimes those very same people come into your study and tell you the most remarkable things. There's a lot under the surface of life, everyone knows that. A lot of malice and dread and guilt, and so much loneliness, where you wouldn't really expect to find it, either.

Marilynne Robinson

Life Loneliness Guilt Ministry

I felt, as I have often felt, that my failing the truth coul

I felt, as I have often felt, that my failing the truth could have no bearing at all on the Truth itself, which could never conceivably be in any sense dependent on me or on anyone.

Marilynne Robinson

Truth

...when we condescend, when we act consistently with a sense

...when we condescend, when we act consistently with a sense of the character of people in general which demeans them, we impoverish them AND ourselves, and preclude our having a part in the creation of the highest wealth, the testimony to the mysterious beauty of life we all value in psalms and tragedies and epics and meditations, in short stories and novels.

Marilynne Robinson

Beauty Condescension

It's better to have nothing,' the children were saying.

It's better to have nothing,' the children were saying.

Marilynne Robinson

Beauty Homelessness Poetic Fiction

But there is something about human beings that too often mak

But there is something about human beings that too often makes our love for the world look very much like hatred for it.

Marilynne Robinson

Love Hate World

Memory can make a thing seem to have been much more than it

Memory can make a thing seem to have been much more than it was.

Marilynne Robinson

Life Memory