Joseph Brodsky Quotes

Top 83 wise famous quotes and sayings by Joseph Brodsky

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Joseph Brodsky Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Joseph Brodsky on Wise Famous Quotes.

Joseph Brodsky quotes: If I can get somewhere, I'm all right. If not, I'm miserable. If I can get somewhere, I'm all right. If not, I'm miserable.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: If there is any substitute for love, it is memory. If there is any substitute for love, it is memory.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: I am quite prepared to die here [in NY]. It doesn't matter at all. I don't know better places, or perhaps if I do I am not prepared to make I am quite prepared to die here [in NY]. It doesn't matter at all. I don't know better places, or perhaps if I do I am not prepared to make a move.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: This is the generation whose first cry of life was the Hungarian uprising. This is the generation whose first cry of life was the Hungarian uprising.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: When the eye fails to find beauty-alias solace-it commands the body to create it, or, failing that, adjusts itself to perceive virtue in ugliness. When the eye fails to find beauty-alias solace-it commands the body to create it, or, failing that, adjusts itself to perceive virtue in ugliness.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Who included me among the ranks of the human race? Who included me among the ranks of the human race?
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Life - the way it really is - is a battle not between good and bad, but between bad and worse Life - the way it really is - is a battle not between good and bad, but between bad and worse
Joseph Brodsky quotes: After having exhausted all the arguments on behalf of evil, one utters the creed's dictums with nostalgia rather than with fervor. After having exhausted all the arguments on behalf of evil, one utters the creed's dictums with nostalgia rather than with fervor.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: When I'm not writing or reading, I'm thinking about both. When I'm not writing or reading, I'm thinking about both.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them. There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: The fact that we are living does not mean we are not sick. The fact that we are living does not mean we are not sick.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Russian talk of political evil is as natural as eating ... Russian talk of political evil is as natural as eating ...
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Buenas noches. Don't mind the roaches. Buenas noches.
Don't mind the roaches.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: For in a real tragedy, it is not the hero who perishes; it is the chorus. For in a real tragedy, it is not the hero who perishes; it is the chorus.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: And geography blended with time equals destiny. And geography blended
with time equals destiny.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: The delirium and horror of the East. The dusty catastrophe of Asia. Green only on the banner of the Prophet. Nothing grows here except mustaches. The delirium and horror of the East. The dusty catastrophe of Asia. Green only on the banner of the Prophet. Nothing grows here except mustaches.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: How delightful to find a friend in everyone. How delightful to find a friend in everyone.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: The instinctive preference was to read rather than to act. No wonder our actual lives were more or less a shambles The instinctive preference was to read rather than to act. No wonder our actual lives were more or less a shambles
Joseph Brodsky quotes: What's happening in Russia is devoid of autobiographical interest for me. Maybe it's egocentric. Whatever it is, feel free to use it. What's happening in Russia is devoid of autobiographical interest for me. Maybe it's egocentric. Whatever it is, feel free to use it.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: What paradise and vacation have in common is that you have to pay for both, and the coin is your previous life. What paradise and vacation have in common is that you have to pay for both, and the coin is your previous life.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: secrecy is a hotbed of vanity secrecy is a hotbed of vanity
Joseph Brodsky quotes: For darkness restores what light cannot repair. For darkness restores what light cannot repair.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: No matter under what circumstances you leave it, home does not cease to be home. No matter how you lived there - well or poorly. No matter under what circumstances you leave it, home does not cease to be home. No matter how you lived there - well or poorly.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Perhaps the best proof of the Almighty's existence is that we never know when we are to die. Perhaps the best proof of the Almighty's existence is that we never know when we are to die.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: For boredom speaks the language of time, and it is to teach you the most valuable lesson of your life - the lesson of your utter insignificance. For boredom speaks the language of time, and it is to teach you the most valuable lesson of your life - the lesson of your utter insignificance.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: I am losing my Soviet citizenship, I do not cease to be a Russian poet. I believe that I will return. Poets always return in flesh or on paper. I am losing my Soviet citizenship, I do not cease to be a Russian poet. I believe that I will return. Poets always return in flesh or on paper.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: An object, after all, is what makes infinity private. An object, after all, is what makes infinity private.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: As long as the state permits itself to interfere in the affairs of literature, literature has the right to interfere with the affairs of state. As long as the state permits itself to interfere in the affairs of literature, literature has the right to interfere with the affairs of state.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: The Constitution doesn't mention rain. The Constitution doesn't mention rain.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: 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 quotes: Perhaps art is simply an organism's reaction against its retentive limitations. Perhaps art is simply an organism's reaction against its retentive limitations.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: I don't want to dive into that mud slide, which is what I consider the literary process. I don't want to dive into that mud slide, which is what I consider the literary process.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: I'm 100 percent Jewish by blood, but by education I'm nothing. By affiliation I'm nothing. I'm 100 percent Jewish by blood, but by education I'm nothing. By affiliation I'm nothing.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Man is what he reads. Man is what he reads.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: The surest defense against Evil is extreme individualism, originality of thinking, whimsicality, even - if you will - eccentricity. The surest defense against Evil is extreme individualism, originality of thinking, whimsicality, even - if you will - eccentricity.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: I'm a bad Jew, a bad Russian, a bad everything. I'm a bad Jew, a bad Russian, a bad everything.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: I'm neither Catholic not Protestant. Protestant sounds good but I don't think I am. I'm neither Catholic not Protestant. Protestant sounds good but I don't think I am.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: A language is a more ancient and inevitable thing than any state. A language is a more ancient and inevitable thing than any state.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: For a writer, only one form of patriotism exists: his attitude toward language. For a writer, only one form of patriotism exists: his attitude toward language.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: In poetic thought, the role of the subconscious is played by euphony. In poetic thought, the role of the subconscious is played by euphony.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: It is well to read everything of something, and something of everything. It is well to read everything of something, and something of everything.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: I don't have principles. I have nerves. I don't have principles. I have nerves.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: I'm not trying to be ridiculous or funny, but it was rather pleasant to find yourself in isolation, in solitary. I'm not trying to be ridiculous or funny, but it was rather pleasant to find yourself in isolation, in solitary.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: What should I say about life? That it's long and abhors transparence. What should I say about life? That it's long and abhors transparence.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: If they had wanted to punish me, they should have kept me in a communal apartment. Then I would have become a wreck. If they had wanted to punish me, they should have kept me in a communal apartment. Then I would have become a wreck.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: A glance leaves an imprint on anything it's dwelt on. A glance leaves an imprint on anything it's dwelt on.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: What we regard as Evil is capable of a fairly ubiquitous presence if only because it tends to appear in the guise of good. What we regard as Evil is capable of a fairly ubiquitous presence if only because it tends to appear in the guise of good.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: There are far more a worst crimes than burning books ... Not reading them. There are far more a worst crimes than burning books ... Not reading them.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: After all, it is hard to master both life and work equally well. So if you are bound to fake one of them, it had better be life. After all, it is hard to master both life and work equally well. So if you are bound to fake one of them, it had better be life.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Every life has a file, if you will. Every life has a file, if you will.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: ...and love, as an act, lacks a verb ...and love, as an act, lacks a verb
Joseph Brodsky quotes: What I like about cities is that everything is king size, the beauty and the ugliness. What I like about cities is that everything is king size, the beauty and the ugliness.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: If one's fated to be born in Caesar's Empire, let him live aloof, provincial, by the seashore ... If one's fated to be born in Caesar's Empire, let him live aloof, provincial, by the seashore ...
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Snobbery? But it's only a form of despair. Snobbery? But it's only a form of despair.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Racism? But isn't it only a form of misanthropy? Racism? But isn't it only a form of misanthropy?
Joseph Brodsky quotes: [T]he longer you stay skeptical, doubtful, intellectually uncomfortable, the better it is for you. [T]he longer you stay skeptical, doubtful, intellectually uncomfortable, the better it is for you.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: For the poet the credo or doctrine is not the point of arrival but is, on the contrary, the point of departure for the metaphysical journey. For the poet the credo or doctrine is not the point of arrival but is, on the contrary, the point of departure for the metaphysical journey.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Poetry is what is gained in translation. Poetry is what is gained in translation.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Every individual ought to know at least one poet from cover to cover: if not as a guide through the world, then as a yardstick for the language. Every individual ought to know at least one poet from cover to cover: if not as a guide through the world, then as a yardstick for the language.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Poetry is not only the most concise way of conveying the human experience; it also offers the highest possible standards for any linguistic operation. Poetry is not only the most concise way of conveying the human experience; it also offers the highest possible standards for any linguistic operation.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: The Last Judgement is the Last Judgement, but a human being who spent his life in Russia, has to be, without any hesitation, placed into Paradise. The Last Judgement is the Last Judgement, but a human being who spent his life in Russia, has to be, without any hesitation, placed into Paradise.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Out of Dostoevsky: Kafka. Out of Tolstoy: Margaret Mitchell.(in conversation, explaining his dislike for Tolstoy) Out of Dostoevsky: Kafka. Out of Tolstoy: Margaret Mitchell.
(in conversation, explaining his dislike for Tolstoy)
Joseph Brodsky quotes: On the whole, love comes with the speed of light; separation, with that of sound. On the whole, love comes with the speed of light; separation, with that of sound.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Bad literature is a form of treason. Bad literature is a form of treason.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: The eye identifies itself not with the body it belongs to but with the object of its attention. The eye identifies itself not with the body it belongs to but with the object of its attention.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: In the business of writing what one accumulates is not expertise but uncertainties. Which is but another name for craft. In the business of writing what one accumulates is not expertise but uncertainties. Which is but another name for craft.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: I don't believe in that country any longer. I'm not interested. I'm writing in the language, and I like the language. I don't believe in that country any longer. I'm not interested. I'm writing in the language, and I like the language.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Susan, Susan -- Poetry: aviation! Prose: infantry. [to Susan Sontag] Susan, Susan -- Poetry: aviation! Prose: infantry. [to Susan Sontag]
Joseph Brodsky quotes: The poetic notion of infinity is far greater than that which is sponsored by any creed. The poetic notion of infinity is far greater than that which is sponsored by any creed.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: The real history of consciousness starts with one's first lie. The real history of consciousness starts with one's first lie.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: In general, with things unpleasant, the rule is: The sooner you hit bottom, the faster you surface. In general, with things unpleasant, the rule is: The sooner you hit bottom, the faster you surface.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: What gets left of a man amounts to a part. To his spoken part. To a part of speech What gets left of a man amounts to a part. To his spoken part. To a part of speech
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Now to die of griefwould mean, I'm afraid, to die belatedly, while latecomersare unwelcome, particularly in the future ... Now to die of grief
would mean, I'm afraid, to die
belatedly, while latecomers
are unwelcome, particularly in the future ...
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Of all the parts of your body, be most vigilant over your index finger, for it is blame-thirsty. A pointed finger is a victim's logo. Of all the parts of your body, be most vigilant over your index finger, for it is blame-thirsty. A pointed finger is a victim's logo.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: The moment that you place blame somewhere, you undermine your resolve to change anything. The moment that you place blame somewhere, you undermine your resolve to change anything.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: There's nothing as dear as the sight of ruins. There's nothing as dear as the sight of ruins.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: In the West you have every opportunity for civilization to triumph. In the West you have every opportunity for civilization to triumph.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: Robert Frost's triumph was not being at John Kennedy's inauguration ceremony, but the day when he put the last period on West-Running Brook. Robert Frost's triumph was not being at John Kennedy's inauguration ceremony, but the day when he put the last period on West-Running Brook.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: [T]he accumulation of things not spelled out, not properly articulated, may result in neurosis. [T]he accumulation of things not spelled out, not properly articulated, may result in neurosis.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: The government, the state, they're just objects of jokes rather than serious consideration. I can't possibly take them seriously. The government, the state, they're just objects of jokes rather than serious consideration. I can't possibly take them seriously.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: All the literati keep at least one imaginary friend. All the literati keep at least one imaginary friend.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: I grew up in the sort of cultural milieu that always regarded conversations about the political discourse as tremendously low-brow. I grew up in the sort of cultural milieu that always regarded conversations about the political discourse as tremendously low-brow.
Joseph Brodsky quotes: I got caught up in the proletariat the way Marx describes it. I got caught up in the proletariat the way Marx describes it.

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