W. H. Auden Quotes

Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by W. H. Auden

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W. H. Auden Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from W. H. Auden on Wise Famous Quotes.

W. H. Auden quotes: A craftsman knows in advance what the finished result will be, while the artist knows only what it will be when he has finished it. A craftsman knows in advance what the finished result will be, while the artist knows only what it will be when he has finished it.
W. H. Auden quotes: There was still gold and silver in the mountains,And hunger was a more immediate sorrow There was still gold and silver in the mountains,
And hunger was a more immediate sorrow
W. H. Auden quotes: Without communication with the dead, a fully human life is not possible. Without communication with the dead, a fully human life is not possible.
W. H. Auden quotes: History marches to the drum of a clear idea. History marches to the drum of a clear idea.
W. H. Auden quotes: There are not many English novels which deserve to be called great: Parade's End is one of them. There are not many English novels which deserve to be called great: Parade's End is one of them.
W. H. Auden quotes: A shilling life will give you all the facts. A shilling life will give you all the facts.
W. H. Auden quotes: The closest modern equivalent to the Homeric hero is the ace fighter pilot. The closest modern equivalent to the Homeric hero is the ace fighter pilot.
W. H. Auden quotes: I sit in one of the divesOn Fifty-second StreetUncertain and afraidAs the clever hopes expireOf a low dishonest decade I sit in one of the dives
On Fifty-second Street
Uncertain and afraid
As the clever hopes expire
Of a low dishonest decade
W. H. Auden quotes: A professor is someone who talks in someone else's sleep. A professor is someone who talks in someone else's sleep.
W. H. Auden quotes: Harrow the house of the dead; look shining at New styles of architecture, a change of heart. Harrow the house of the dead; look shining at New styles of architecture, a change of heart.
W. H. Auden quotes: Mad Ireland hurt you into poetry. Mad Ireland hurt you into poetry.
W. H. Auden quotes: One can only blaspheme if one believes. One can only blaspheme if one believes.
W. H. Auden quotes: We honor founders of these starving cities,Whose honor is the image of our sorrow. We honor founders of these starving cities,
Whose honor is the image of our sorrow.
W. H. Auden quotes: It takes little talent to see what lies under one's nose, a good deal to know in what direction to point that organ. It takes little talent to see what lies under one's nose, a good deal to know in what direction to point that organ.
W. H. Auden quotes: Music is the best means we have of digesting time. Music is the best means we have of digesting time.
W. H. Auden quotes: No hero is mortal till he dies. No hero is mortal till he dies.
W. H. Auden quotes: What answer to the meaning of existence should one require beyond the right to exercise one's gifts? What answer to the meaning of existence should one require beyond the right to exercise one's gifts?
W. H. Auden quotes: Men will pay large sums to whores for telling them they are not bores. Men will pay large sums to whores for telling them they are not bores.
W. H. Auden quotes: Good can imagine Evil; but Evil cannot imagine Good. Good can imagine Evil; but Evil cannot imagine Good.
W. H. Auden quotes: Earth, receive an honored guest; William Yeats is laid to rest. Let the Irish vessel lie Emptied of its poetry. Earth, receive an honored guest; William Yeats is laid to rest. Let the Irish vessel lie Emptied of its poetry.
W. H. Auden quotes: I smell blood and an era of prominent madmen. I smell blood and an era of prominent madmen.
W. H. Auden quotes: Whatever you do, good or bad, people will always have something negative to say Whatever you do, good or bad, people will always have something negative to say
W. H. Auden quotes: And none will hear the postman's knockWithout a quickening of the heart.For who can bear to feel himself forgotten? And none will hear the postman's knock
Without a quickening of the heart.
For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?
W. H. Auden quotes: It is a sad fact about our culture that a poet can earn much more money writing or talking about his art than he can by practicing it. It is a sad fact about our culture that a poet can earn much more money writing or talking about his art than he can by practicing it.
W. H. Auden quotes: I'll love you till the ocean Is folded and hung up to dry And the seven stars go squawking Like geese about the sky. I'll love you till the ocean Is folded and hung up to dry And the seven stars go squawking Like geese about the sky.
W. H. Auden quotes: A poet must never make a statement simply because it is sounds poetically exciting; he must also believe it to be true. A poet must never make a statement simply because it is sounds poetically exciting; he must also believe it to be true.
W. H. Auden quotes: We were put on this earth to make things. We were put on this earth to make things.
W. H. Auden quotes: The glacier knocks in the cupboard, The desert sighs in the bed, And the crack in the teacup opens A lane to the land of the dead. The glacier knocks in the cupboard, The desert sighs in the bed, And the crack in the teacup opens A lane to the land of the dead.
W. H. Auden quotes: Let all your thinks be thanks. Let all your thinks be thanks.
W. H. Auden quotes: Intellectual disgraceStares from every human face,And the seas of pity lieLocked and frozen in each eye. Intellectual disgrace
Stares from every human face,
And the seas of pity lie
Locked and frozen in each eye.
W. H. Auden quotes: From beginning to end Wilde performed his life and continued to do so even after fame had taken the plot out of his own hands. From beginning to end Wilde performed his life and continued to do so even after fame had taken the plot out of his own hands.
W. H. Auden quotes: Routine, in an intelligent man, is a sign of ambition. Routine, in an intelligent man, is a sign of ambition.
W. H. Auden quotes: To choose what is difficult all one's days, as if it were easy, that is faith To choose what is difficult all one's days, as if it were easy, that is faith
W. H. Auden quotes: A poet is, before anything else, a person who is passionately in love with language. A poet is, before anything else, a person who is passionately in love with language.
W. H. Auden quotes: How should we like it were stars to burn With a passion for us we could not return? If equal affection cannot be, Let the more loving one be me. How should we like it were stars to burn With a passion for us we could not return? If equal affection cannot be, Let the more loving one be me.
W. H. Auden quotes: The relation of faith between subject and object is unique in every case. Hundreds may believe, but each has to believe by himself. The relation of faith between subject and object is unique in every case. Hundreds may believe, but each has to believe by himself.
W. H. Auden quotes: Even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course Anyhow in a corner, some untidy spot Where the dogs go on with their doggy life Even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course Anyhow in a corner, some untidy spot Where the dogs go on with their doggy life
W. H. Auden quotes: The parlour cars and Pullmans are packed also with scented assassins, salad-eaters who murder on milk. The parlour cars and Pullmans are packed also with scented assassins, salad-eaters who murder on milk.
W. H. Auden quotes: these days of exotic splendour may stand outin each lifetime like marblemileposts in an alluvial land these days of exotic splendour may stand out
in each lifetime like marble
mileposts in an alluvial land
W. H. Auden quotes: The most exciting rhythms seem unexpected and complex, the most beautiful melodies simple and inevitable. The most exciting rhythms seem unexpected and complex, the most beautiful melodies simple and inevitable.
W. H. Auden quotes: Like love we don't know where or why Like love we cant compel or fly Like Love we often weep Like Love we seldom keep Like love we don't know where or why Like love we cant compel or fly Like Love we often weep Like Love we seldom keep
W. H. Auden quotes: O let not Time deceive you,You cannot conquer Time. O let not Time deceive you,
You cannot conquer Time.
W. H. Auden quotes: A verbal art like poetry is reflective; it stops to think. Music is immediate, it goes on to become. A verbal art like poetry is reflective; it stops to think. Music is immediate, it goes on to become.
W. H. Auden quotes: All sins tend to be addictive, and the terminal point of addiction is damnation. All sins tend to be addictive, and the terminal point of addiction is damnation.
W. H. Auden quotes: Now the leaves are falling fast, Nurse's flowers will not last, Nurses to their graves are gone, But the prams go rolling on. Now the leaves are falling fast, Nurse's flowers will not last, Nurses to their graves are gone, But the prams go rolling on.
W. H. Auden quotes: Thoughts on his own death, like the distant roll of thunder at a picnic. Thoughts on his own death, like the distant roll of thunder at a picnic.
W. H. Auden quotes: See without looking, hear without listening, breathe without asking. See without looking, hear without listening, breathe without asking.
W. H. Auden quotes: Every man carries with him through life a mirror, as unique and impossible to get rid of as his shadow. Every man carries with him through life a mirror, as unique and impossible to get rid of as his shadow.
W. H. Auden quotes: A false enchantment can all too easily last a lifetime. A false enchantment can all too easily last a lifetime.
W. H. Auden quotes: The way to read a fairy tale is to throw yourself in. The way to read a fairy tale is to throw yourself in.
W. H. Auden quotes: Of course,Behaviourism 'works'. So does torture. Of course,Behaviourism 'works'. So does torture.
W. H. Auden quotes: To be happy means to be free, not from pain or fear, but from care or anxiety. To be happy means to be free, not from pain or fear, but from care or anxiety.
W. H. Auden quotes: Language is the mother, not the handmaiden, of thought; words will tell you things you never thought or felt before. Language is the mother, not the handmaiden, of thought; words will tell you things you never thought or felt before.
W. H. Auden quotes: There is a great deal of difference in believing something still, and believing it again. There is a great deal of difference in believing something still, and believing it again.
W. H. Auden quotes: Human beings are, necessarily, actors who ... can be divided ... into the sane who know they are acting and the mad who do not. Human beings are, necessarily, actors who ... can be divided ... into the sane who know they are acting and the mad who do not.
W. H. Auden quotes: Cathedrals, luxury liners laden with souls, Holding to the east their hulls of stone. Cathedrals, luxury liners laden with souls, Holding to the east their hulls of stone.
W. H. Auden quotes: There are bills to be paid, machines to keep in repair,Irregular verbs to learn, the Time Being to redeemFrom insignificance. There are bills to be paid, machines to keep in repair,
Irregular verbs to learn, the Time Being to redeem
From insignificance.
W. H. Auden quotes: The mercury sank in the mouth of the dying day. The mercury sank in the mouth of the dying day.
W. H. Auden quotes: We must love one another or die We must love one another or die
W. H. Auden quotes: I write because I love to play with language. I write because I love to play with language.
W. H. Auden quotes: The older lives like not to be stood in rows or at right angles. The older lives like not to be stood in rows or at right angles.
W. H. Auden quotes: Oh dear white children, casual as birds,Playing among the ruined languages,So small beside their large confusing words. Oh dear white children, casual as birds,
Playing among the ruined languages,
So small beside their large confusing words.
W. H. Auden quotes: To save your world you asked this man to die; would this man, could he see you now, ask why? To save your world you asked this man to die; would this man, could he see you now, ask why?
W. H. Auden quotes: The center that I cannot find is known to my unconscious mind. The center that I cannot find is known to my unconscious mind.
W. H. Auden quotes: When I find myself in the company of scientists, I feel like a shabby curate who has strayed by mistake into a room full of dukes. When I find myself in the company of scientists, I feel like a shabby curate who has strayed by mistake into a room full of dukes.
W. H. Auden quotes: All we are not stares back at what we are. All we are not stares back at what we are.
W. H. Auden quotes: Over the tea-cups and in the square the tongue has its desire; Still waters run deep, my dear, there's never smoke without fire. Over the tea-cups and in the square the tongue has its desire; Still waters run deep, my dear, there's never smoke without fire.
W. H. Auden quotes: The identification of fantasy is always an attempt to avoid one's own suffering: the identification of art is the sharing in the suffering of another. The identification of fantasy is always an attempt to avoid one's own suffering: the identification of art is the sharing in the suffering of another.
W. H. Auden quotes: If time were the wicked sheriff in a horse opera, I'd pay for riding lessons and take his gun away. If time were the wicked sheriff in a horse opera, I'd pay for riding lessons and take his gun away.
W. H. Auden quotes: History is, strictly speaking, the study of questions; the study of answers belongs to anthropology and sociology. History is, strictly speaking, the study of questions; the study of answers belongs to anthropology and sociology.
W. H. Auden quotes: Literary confessors are contemptible, like beggars who exhibit their sores for money, but not so contemptible as the public that buys their books. Literary confessors are contemptible, like beggars who exhibit their sores for money, but not so contemptible as the public that buys their books.
W. H. Auden quotes: Words have no word for words that are not true. Words have no word for words that are not true.
W. H. Auden quotes: Oh, how I wish that Orwell were still alive, so that I could read his comments on contemporary events! Oh, how I wish that Orwell were still alive, so that I could read his comments on contemporary events!
W. H. Auden quotes: Health is the state about which medicine has nothing to say. Health is the state about which medicine has nothing to say.
W. H. Auden quotes: Lust is less a physical need than a way of forgetting time and death. Lust is less a physical need than a way of forgetting time and death.
W. H. Auden quotes: It's usually the stupid people that develop long illnesses. You need more than indolence and selfishness, you need endurance to make a good patient. It's usually the stupid people that develop long illnesses. You need more than indolence and selfishness, you need endurance to make a good patient.
W. H. Auden quotes: What the mass media offers is not popular art, but entertainment which is intended to be consumed like food, forgotten, and replaced by a new dish. What the mass media offers is not popular art, but entertainment which is intended to be consumed like food, forgotten, and replaced by a new dish.
W. H. Auden quotes: Without art, we should have no notion of the sacred; without science, we should always worship false gods. Without art, we should have no notion of the sacred; without science, we should always worship false gods.
W. H. Auden quotes: A poem is a verbal artifact which must be as skillfullyand solidly constructed as a table or a motorcycle. A poem is a verbal artifact which must be as skillfully
and solidly constructed as a table or a motorcycle.
W. H. Auden quotes: Most people enjoy the sight of their own handwriting as they enjoy the smell of their own farts. Most people enjoy the sight of their own handwriting as they enjoy the smell of their own farts.
W. H. Auden quotes: Those who will not reason, perish in the act. Those who will not act, perish for that reason. Those who will not reason, perish in the act. Those who will not act, perish for that reason.
W. H. Auden quotes: A writer is a maker, not a man of action: his private life is of no concern to anybody but himself, his family and his friends. A writer is a maker, not a man of action: his private life is of no concern to anybody but himself, his family and his friends.
W. H. Auden quotes: If it form the one landscape that we the inconstant onesAre consistently homesick for, this is chieflyBecause it dissolves in water. If it form the one landscape that we the inconstant ones
Are consistently homesick for, this is chiefly
Because it dissolves in water.
W. H. Auden quotes: Few people take an interest in Iceland, but in those few the interest is passionate. Few people take an interest in Iceland, but in those few the interest is passionate.
W. H. Auden quotes: Swans in the winter airA white perfection have Swans in the winter air
A white perfection have
W. H. Auden quotes: When I am in the company of scientists, I feel like a shabby curate who has strayed by mistake into a drawing room full of dukes. When I am in the company of scientists, I feel like a shabby curate who has strayed by mistake into a drawing room full of dukes.
W. H. Auden quotes: If equal affection cannot be, let the more loving be me. If equal affection cannot be, let the more loving be me.
W. H. Auden quotes: We do not change as we grow up. The difference between the child and the adult is that the former doesn't know who he is and the latter does. We do not change as we grow up. The difference between the child and the adult is that the former doesn't know who he is and the latter does.
W. H. Auden quotes: God may reduce you on Judgment Day to tears of shame, reciting by heart the poems you would have written, had your life been good. God may reduce you on Judgment Day to tears of shame, reciting by heart the poems you would have written, had your life been good.
W. H. Auden quotes: In a game, just losing is almost as satisfying as just winning ... In life the loser's score is always zero. In a game, just losing is almost as satisfying as just winning ... In life the loser's score is always zero.
W. H. Auden quotes: Thank God for books as an alternative to conversation. Thank God for books as an alternative to conversation.
W. H. Auden quotes: Clear, unscaleable ahead, Rise the mountains of instead From whose cold, cascading streams None may drink except in dreams Clear, unscaleable ahead, Rise the mountains of instead From whose cold, cascading streams None may drink except in dreams
W. H. Auden quotes: Behind you swiftly the figure comes softly,The spot on your skin is a shocking disease. Behind you swiftly the figure comes softly,
The spot on your skin is a shocking disease.
W. H. Auden quotes: Fame often makes a writer vain, but seldom makes him proud. Fame often makes a writer vain, but seldom makes him proud.
W. H. Auden quotes: The friends who met here and embraced are gone, Each to his own mistake; The friends who met here and embraced are gone, Each to his own mistake;
W. H. Auden quotes: Politics cannot be a science, because in politics theory and practice cannot be separated, and the sciences depend upon their separation. Politics cannot be a science, because in politics theory and practice cannot be separated, and the sciences depend upon their separation.
W. H. Auden quotes: The eye likes novelty, but the ear craves familiarity. The eye likes novelty, but the ear craves familiarity.
W. H. Auden quotes: I will love you forever" swears the poet. I find this easy to swear too. "I will love you at 4:15 pm next Tuesday" - Is that still as easy? I will love you forever" swears the poet. I find this easy to swear too. "I will love you at 4:15 pm next Tuesday" - Is that still as easy?
W. H. Auden quotes: no poet can know what his poem is going to be like until he has written it. no poet can know what his poem is going to be like until he has written it.
W. H. Auden quotes: Time will say nothing but I told you so ... Time will say nothing but I told you so ...

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