"Literature does not exist in a vacuum. Writers as such have a definite social function exactly proportional to their ability as writers. This is their main use."

Ability, Literature, Writers

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"Literature does not exist in a vacuum. Writers as such have a definite social function exactly proportional to their ability as writers. This is their main use."

Exlpore more Ability quotes

"The assumption must be that those who can see value only in tradition, or versions of it, deny man's ability to adapt to changing circumstances."

Stephen Bayley, British Critic

Ability, Circumstances, Man, Tradition

"Early on, it's good to develop the ability to write. Learning to write is a useful exercise, even if what you're writing about is not that relevant."

Walter Gilbert, American Scientist

Ability, Exercise, Learning, Writing

"Finally we are a nation with some conscience. It means alliances are extremely important when they're based on a national interest. We have to have the ability to sustain our presence within those alliances."

Malcolm Wallop, American Politician

Ability, Conscience, Interest, Nation

"I believe the greatest asset a head of state can have is the ability to get a good night's sleep."

Harold Wilson, English Statesman

Ability, Night, Sleep, State

"There is a curious relationship between a candidate and the reporters who cover him. It can be affected by small things like a competent press staff, enough seats, sandwiches and briefings and the ability to understand deadlines."

Ronald Steel, American Historian

Ability, Press

"If your education, talent and capacity can do nothing; your body can do lots of things."

M.F. Moonzajer, Afghan Author

Ability, Education, Talent, Body

"Realize that from the start, every activity that comprises the journey has value and the ability to teach you something."

Bill Toomey, American Athlete

Ability, Journey, Value

"The video forum for me has been a source of great consternation because once you start projecting a look to a song, it robs the listener of their ability to adopt that song and make the lyric their own."

Sheryl Crow, American Musician

Ability, Song

"Well, I'll say I have an incredible ability to fantasize - I really do. I don't have to have things tangible to be able to see them, and therefore I enjoy so many things, because they're in my mind."

Donna Summer, American Musician

Ability, Mind

"The difference between a top-flight creative man and the hack is his ability to express powerful meanings indirectly."

Vance Packard, American Writer

Ability, Difference, Man

Explore more quotes by Ezra Pound

"A man of genius has a right to any mode of expression."

Genius

"Literature is news that stays news."

Literature

"Good art however "immoral" is wholly a thing of virtue. Good art can NOT be immoral. By good art I mean art that bears true witness, I mean the art that is most precise."

Art

"I have never known anyone worth a damn who wasn't irascible."

Worth

"Gloom and solemnity are entirely out of place in even the most rigorous study of an art originally intended to make glad the heart of man."

Art

"But the one thing you should. not do is to suppose that when something is wrong with the arts, it is wrong with the arts ONLY."

Wrong

"Colloquial poetry is to the real art as the barber's wax dummy is to sculpture."

Art

"Great literature is simply language charged with meaning to the utmost possible degree."

Language

"Music begins to atrophy when it departs too far from the dance... poetry begins to atrophy when it gets too far from music."

Music

"I have always thought the suicide should bump off at least one swine before taking off for parts unknown."

Thought