Literary works throughout history have often celebrated the enchanting allure of autumn or fall. Poetic musings always seem to blossom under the influence of crackling leaves, woodsmoke, crisp apple cider, and full harvest moons. In addition to the wealth of classic books perfect for reading in the autumn, many writers’ bodies of work meditate on the coziest season. Each one of these literary quotes about autumn was plucked from the works of great writers to inspire an autumnal spirit. From classic novels to modern prose, autumn remains a perennial muse for literary minds.

“Then the trees, after their long silence, began to talk again, in yellow and red.”

— Hope Mirrless, Lud-in-the-Mist

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”

— F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”

— Albert Camus, Le Malentendu

“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.”

— Nathaniel Hawthorne’s notebook, October 10, 1842

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.”

— Henry David Thoreau, Walden

“So many orchards circled the village that on some crisp October afternoons the whole world smelled like pie.”

— Alice Hoffman, Here on Earth

“And all at one, summer collapsed into fall.”

— Oscar Wilde

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.”

— George Eliot’s letters, October 1, 1841

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

— L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

“Another fall, another turned page: as if last year’s mistakes had been wiped clean by summer.”

— Wallace Stegner, Angle of Repose

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If you’re looking for even more cozy fall content, look no further! From cozy autumn movies, to a relaxing playlist for a walk in the park, I’ve got you covered. If you like to get out in the fall, check out my roundup of the best national parks for fall colors, and my fall activities checklist.

What is your favorite literary quote about autumn? Tell me in the comments!