Poetry Quotes | Beyond Motive 5/15

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Poetry Quotes

"Yet, it is true, poetry is delicious; the best prose is that which is most full of poetry."

"Yet, it is true, poetry is delicious; the best prose is that which is most full of poetry."

Virginia Woolf, British Author

39

"However, I learned something. I thought that if the young person, the student, has poetry in him or her, to offer them help is like offering a propeller to a bird."

"However, I learned something. I thought that if the young person, the student, has poetry in him or her, to offer them help is like offering a propeller to a bird."

Norman MacCaig, Scottish Poet

Poetry, Thought, Help

38

"I would say that American poetry has always been a poetry of personal testimony."

"I would say that American poetry has always been a poetry of personal testimony."

Mark Strand, American Poet

38

"Obviously one of the things that poets from Northern Ireland and beyond - had to try to make sense of was what was happening on a day-to-day political level."

"Obviously one of the things that poets from Northern Ireland and beyond - had to try to make sense of was what was happening on a day-to-day political level."

Paul Muldoon, English Poet

Poetry, Day, Ireland, Poets, Sense

38

"Poetry is one of the few nasty childhood habits I've managed to grow out of."

"Poetry is one of the few nasty childhood habits I've managed to grow out of."

Tom Holt, British Novelist

Poetry, Childhood, Habits

38

"I wrote things for the school's newspaper, and - like all teenagers - I dabbled in poetry."

"I wrote things for the school's newspaper, and - like all teenagers - I dabbled in poetry."

Stephen Colbert, American Comedian

Poetry, School, Teenagers

38

"I have had much to learn from Sweden's poetry and, more especially, from her lyrics of the last generation."

"I have had much to learn from Sweden's poetry and, more especially, from her lyrics of the last generation."

Knut Hamsun, Norwegian Author

38

"The office of poetry is not to make us think accurately, but feel truly."

"The office of poetry is not to make us think accurately, but feel truly."

Frederick Robertson, English Clergyman

38

"Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does."

"Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does."

Allen Ginsberg, American Poet

Poetry, Time, Bed, Expression

38

"My mother carried on and supported us; her ambition had been to write poetry and songs."

"My mother carried on and supported us; her ambition had been to write poetry and songs."

Philip Levine, American Poet

Poetry, Mother, Ambition, Songs

38

"We are looking to brands for poetry and for spirituality, because we're not getting those things from our communities or from each other."

"We are looking to brands for poetry and for spirituality, because we're not getting those things from our communities or from each other."

Naomi Klein, Canadian Journalist

Poetry, Spirituality

38

"And my father was a comic. He could play any musical instrument. He loved to perform. He was a wonderfully comedic character. He had the ability to dance and sing and charm and analyze poetry."

"And my father was a comic. He could play any musical instrument. He loved to perform. He was a wonderfully comedic character. He had the ability to dance and sing and charm and analyze poetry."

Lynn Johnston, American Cartoonist

Poetry, Father, Dance, Character

38

"The poetry community here has been extraordinarily welcoming."

"The poetry community here has been extraordinarily welcoming."

George Murray, Canadian Poet

Poetry, Community

38

"Well - I started writing - probably in the early 60s and by say '65-'66 I had read most of the poetry that had been published - certainly in the 20 years prior to that."

"Well - I started writing - probably in the early 60s and by say '65-'66 I had read most of the poetry that had been published - certainly in the 20 years prior to that."

Robert Adamson, Scottish Philosopher

Poetry, Writing, Years

38

"Poetry has the virtue of being able to say twice as much as prose in half the time, and the drawback, if you do not give it your full attention, of seeming to say half as much in twice the time."

"Poetry has the virtue of being able to say twice as much as prose in half the time, and the drawback, if you do not give it your full attention, of seeming to say half as much in twice the time."

Christopher Fry, English Playwright

Poetry, Time, Virtue, Attention

38

"To me, Doors fans were always the 16-year-old idiots at parties, getting stoned, and talking about how Morrison's lyrics were like poetry... like that was a deep thought."

"To me, Doors fans were always the 16-year-old idiots at parties, getting stoned, and talking about how Morrison's lyrics were like poetry... like that was a deep thought."

Bruce McCulloch, Canadian Actor

Poetry, Thought, Deep, Fans

38

"Even when poetry has a meaning, as it usually has, it may be inadvisable to draw it out... Perfect understanding will sometimes almost extinguish pleasure."

"Even when poetry has a meaning, as it usually has, it may be inadvisable to draw it out... Perfect understanding will sometimes almost extinguish pleasure."

A. E. Housman, English Poet

Poetry, May, Meaning, Pleasure

38

"Women are treated as unjustly in poetry as in life. The feminine ones are not idealistic, and the idealistic not feminine."

"Women are treated as unjustly in poetry as in life. The feminine ones are not idealistic, and the idealistic not feminine."

Karl Schlegel, German Philosopher

Poetry, Women, Life

38

"As to whether a poem has been written by a great poet or not, this is important only to historians of literature. Let us suppose, for the sake of argument, that I have written a beautiful line; let us take this as a working hypothesis. Once I have written it, that linedoes me no good, because, as I've already said, that line came to me from the Holy Ghost, from the subliminal self, or perhaps from some other writer. I often find I am merely quoting something I read some time ago, and then that becomes a rediscovering. Perhaps it is better that a poet should be nameless."

"As to whether a poem has been written by a great poet or not, this is important only to historians of literature. Let us suppose, for the sake of argument, that I have written a beautiful line; let us take this as a working hypothesis. Once I have written it, that linedoes me no good, because, as I've already said, that line came to me from the Holy Ghost, from the subliminal self, or perhaps from some other writer. I often find I am merely quoting something I read some time ago, and then that becomes a rediscovering. Perhaps it is better that a poet should be nameless."

Jorge Luis Borges, Argentinian Poet

Poetry, Authorship, Creativity, Humility, Inspirational

38

"This winter, there will be no voices, no glimpses, no arms.only the fabric of poetry, to keep me warm."

"This winter, there will be no voices, no glimpses, no arms.only the fabric of poetry, to keep me warm."

Sanober Khan, Indian Businessman

Poetry, Winter, Silence, Loneliness

38

"I've often entertained paranoid suspicions about my fridge and what it's been doing to my poetry when I'm not looking, but I never even considered that my fan was thinking about me."

"I've often entertained paranoid suspicions about my fridge and what it's been doing to my poetry when I'm not looking, but I never even considered that my fan was thinking about me."

George Murray, Canadian Poet

Poetry, Thinking

38

"Poetry is man's rebellion against being what he is."

"Poetry is man's rebellion against being what he is."

James Branch Cabell, American Novelist

Poetry, Being, Man, Rebellion

38

"Writing poems is simply an excuse to remember You."

"Writing poems is simply an excuse to remember You."

Kamand Kojouri, Iranian Poet

Poetry, Love, Memory, Writing

38

"I want you to crave the crisp ocean breezeas much as I do.I want your soul to beas rain-swept as mine."

"I want you to crave the crisp ocean breezeas much as I do.I want your soul to beas rain-swept as mine."

Sanober Khan, Indian Businessman

Poetry, Nature, Love, Emotion

38

"I have experienced healing through other writers' poetry, but there's no way I can sit down to write in the hope a poem will have healing potential. If I do, I'll write a bad poem."

"I have experienced healing through other writers' poetry, but there's no way I can sit down to write in the hope a poem will have healing potential. If I do, I'll write a bad poem."

Marilyn Hacker, American Poet

Poetry, Hope, Healing, Potential

38

"Poetry is a form of mathematics, a highly rigorous relationship with words."

"Poetry is a form of mathematics, a highly rigorous relationship with words."

Tahar Ben Jelloun, French Poet

Poetry, Mathematics, Words

38

"The urge to write poetry is like having an itch. When the itch becomes annoying enough, you scratch it."

"The urge to write poetry is like having an itch. When the itch becomes annoying enough, you scratch it."

Robert Penn Warren, American Novelist

38

"Poetry is fascinating. As soon as it begins the poetry has changed the thing into something extra, and somehow prose can go over into poetry."

"Poetry is fascinating. As soon as it begins the poetry has changed the thing into something extra, and somehow prose can go over into poetry."

Michael Tippett, English Composer

38

"I wish you would read a little poetry sometimes. Your ignorance cramps my conversation."

"I wish you would read a little poetry sometimes. Your ignorance cramps my conversation."

Anthony Hope, British Writer

Poetry, Conversation, Ignorance

37

"I see no reason for calling my work poetry except that there is no other category in which to put it."

"I see no reason for calling my work poetry except that there is no other category in which to put it."

Marianne Moore, American Poet

Poetry, Work, Reason

37

"Humour is a fine line to walk in poetry, as in fiction. I just think it's harder to write. It's harder to keep the respect of the reader too."

"Humour is a fine line to walk in poetry, as in fiction. I just think it's harder to write. It's harder to keep the respect of the reader too."

George Murray, Canadian Poet

Poetry, Fiction, Respect

37

"The poetry of heroism appeals irresistibly to those who don't go to a war, and even more to those whom the war is making enormously wealthy. It's always so."

"The poetry of heroism appeals irresistibly to those who don't go to a war, and even more to those whom the war is making enormously wealthy. It's always so."

Louis-Ferdinand Celine, French Writer

Poetry, War, Heroism

37

"Have you ever heard a good joke? If you've ever heard someone just right, with the right pacing, then you're already on the way to poetry. It's about using words in very precise ways and using gesture."

"Have you ever heard a good joke? If you've ever heard someone just right, with the right pacing, then you're already on the way to poetry. It's about using words in very precise ways and using gesture."

Rita Dove, American Poet

Poetry, Right, Words

37

"But it is the province of religion, of philosophy, of pure poetry only, to go beyond life, beyond time, into eternity."

"But it is the province of religion, of philosophy, of pure poetry only, to go beyond life, beyond time, into eternity."

Alfred de Vigny, French Poet

Poetry, Life, Religion, Time

37

"You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose."

"You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose."

Mario Cuomo, American Politician

37

"I did not have a very literary background. I came to poetry from the sciences and mathematics, and also through an interest in Japanese and Chinese poetry in translation."

"I did not have a very literary background. I came to poetry from the sciences and mathematics, and also through an interest in Japanese and Chinese poetry in translation."

Robert Morgan, American Soldier

Poetry, Interest, Literary, Mathematics

37

"Poetry is what Milton saw when he went blind."

"Poetry is what Milton saw when he went blind."

Don Marquis, American Poet

37

"A poet's autobiography is his poetry. Anything else is just a footnote."

"A poet's autobiography is his poetry. Anything else is just a footnote."

Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Russian Poet

Poetry, Autobiography

37

"I believe that all poetry is formal in that it exists within limits, limits that are either inherited by tradition or limits that language itself imposes."

"I believe that all poetry is formal in that it exists within limits, limits that are either inherited by tradition or limits that language itself imposes."

Mark Strand, American Poet

Poetry, Language, Limits, Tradition

37

"Poetry is rather an approach to things, to life, than it is typographical production."

"Poetry is rather an approach to things, to life, than it is typographical production."

Joseph Brodsky, American Poet

Poetry, Life, Production

37

"Poetry is, first and last, language - the rest is filler."

"Poetry is, first and last, language - the rest is filler."

Mark Strand, American Poet

Poetry, First, Language, Rest

37

"I think the best American poetry is the poetry that utilizes the resources of poetry rather than exploits the defects or triumphs of the poet's personality."

"I think the best American poetry is the poetry that utilizes the resources of poetry rather than exploits the defects or triumphs of the poet's personality."

Mark Strand, American Poet

Poetry, Personality

37

"Thinking in its lower grades, is comparable to paper money, and in its higher forms it is a kind of poetry."

"Thinking in its lower grades, is comparable to paper money, and in its higher forms it is a kind of poetry."

Henry Ellis, British Psychologist

Poetry, Money, Thinking

37

"A definition of poetry can only determine what poetry should be and not what poetry actually was and is; otherwise the most concise formula would be: Poetry is that which at some time and some place was thus named."

"A definition of poetry can only determine what poetry should be and not what poetry actually was and is; otherwise the most concise formula would be: Poetry is that which at some time and some place was thus named."

Karl Schlegel, German Philosopher

Poetry, Time, Formula

37

"Poetry was invented as an mnemonic device to enable people to remember their prayers."

"Poetry was invented as an mnemonic device to enable people to remember their prayers."

Peter Davison, British Actor

37

"Nothing truly convincing - which would possess thoroughness, vigor, and skill - has been written against the ancients as yet; especially not against their poetry."

"Nothing truly convincing - which would possess thoroughness, vigor, and skill - has been written against the ancients as yet; especially not against their poetry."

Karl Schlegel, German Philosopher

Poetry, Nothing, Skill

37

"There have been two popular subjects for poetry in the last few decades: the Vietnam War and AIDS, about both of which almost all of us have felt deeply."

"There have been two popular subjects for poetry in the last few decades: the Vietnam War and AIDS, about both of which almost all of us have felt deeply."

Thom Gunn, British Poet

Poetry, War, Popular, Vietnam

37

"There is little premium in poetry in a world that thinks of Pound and Whitman as a weight and a sampler, not an Ezra, a Walt, a thing of beauty, a joy forever."

"There is little premium in poetry in a world that thinks of Pound and Whitman as a weight and a sampler, not an Ezra, a Walt, a thing of beauty, a joy forever."

Anna Quindlen, American Journalist

Poetry, Beauty, Joy, Weight

37

"How does one happen to write a poem: where does it come from? That is the question asked by the psychologists or the geneticists of poetry."

"How does one happen to write a poem: where does it come from? That is the question asked by the psychologists or the geneticists of poetry."

Allen Tate, American Poet

Poetry, Question

37

"A wind has blown the rain away and blown the sky away and all the leaves away, and the trees stand. I think, I too, have known autumn too long."

"A wind has blown the rain away and blown the sky away and all the leaves away, and the trees stand. I think, I too, have known autumn too long."

e. e. cummings, American Poet

Poetry, Autumn, Rain, Sky, Trees

37

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