Wise Words: The Universe

“The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.”

– Muriel Rukeyser (1913 – 1980), “The Speed of Darkness”

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Muriel Rukeyser was a New York-born poet. She was also known for political activism.

“The Speed of Darkness” is a poem consisting of 13 sections. The line quoted above can be found in section IX. It was published in 1968.

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This quote can be found along Library Way, a stretch of East 41st Street, which leads to the New York Public Library. The plaque was sculpted by Gregg LeFevre.