William Butler Yeats Quotes

Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by William Butler Yeats

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William Butler Yeats Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from William Butler Yeats on Wise Famous Quotes.

William Butler Yeats quotes: The wrong of unshapely things is a wrong too great to be told;I hunger to build them anew and sit on a green knoll apart ... The wrong of unshapely things is a wrong too great to be told;
I hunger to build them anew and sit on a green knoll apart ...
William Butler Yeats quotes: I have no question: It is enough, I know what fixed the station Of star and cloud. And knowing all, I cry ... I have no question: It is enough, I know what fixed the station Of star and cloud. And knowing all, I cry ...
William Butler Yeats quotes: Hammer your thoughts into unity. Hammer your thoughts into unity.
William Butler Yeats quotes: That toil of growing up; The ignominy of boyhood; the distress Of boyhood changing into man; The unfinished man and his pain. That toil of growing up; The ignominy of boyhood; the distress Of boyhood changing into man; The unfinished man and his pain.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Everything we look upon is blest. Everything we look upon is blest.
William Butler Yeats quotes: I have drunk ale from the Country of the Young / And weep because I know all things now. I have drunk ale from the Country of the Young / And weep because I know all things now.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Teaching is not filling up a pail, it is lighting a fire. Teaching is not filling up a pail, it is lighting a fire.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Civilisation is hooped together, broughtUnder a rule, under the semblance of peaceBy manifold illusion ... Civilisation is hooped together, brought
Under a rule, under the semblance of peace
By manifold illusion ...
William Butler Yeats quotes: Out of Ireland have we come, great hatred, little room, maimed us at the start. I carry from my mother's womb a fanatic heart. Out of Ireland have we come, great hatred, little room, maimed us at the start. I carry from my mother's womb a fanatic heart.
William Butler Yeats quotes: The women take so little stockIn what I do or sayThey'd sooner leave their cossetingTo hear a jackass bray ... The women take so little stock
In what I do or say
They'd sooner leave their cosseting
To hear a jackass bray ...
William Butler Yeats quotes: My temptation is quiet. Here at life's end Neither loose imagination Nor the mill of the mind Consuming its rag and bone, Can make the truth known. My temptation is quiet. Here at life's end Neither loose imagination Nor the mill of the mind Consuming its rag and bone, Can make the truth known.
William Butler Yeats quotes: The true faith discovered was When painted panel, statuary, Glass-mosaic, window-glass, Amended what was told awry By some peasant gospeler. The true faith discovered was When painted panel, statuary, Glass-mosaic, window-glass, Amended what was told awry By some peasant gospeler.
William Butler Yeats quotes: My chair was nearest to the fireIn every companyThat talked of love or politics,Ere Time transfigured me. My chair was nearest to the fire
In every company
That talked of love or politics,
Ere Time transfigured me.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Those men that in their writings are most wiseOwn nothing but their blind, stupefied hearts. Those men that in their writings are most wise
Own nothing but their blind, stupefied hearts.
William Butler Yeats quotes: All dreams of the soulEnd in a beautiful man's or woman's body. All dreams of the soul
End in a beautiful man's or woman's body.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Evil comes to all us men of imagination wearing as its mask all the virtues. Evil comes to all us men of imagination wearing as its mask all the virtues.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Who dreamed that beauty passes like a dream? Who dreamed that beauty passes like a dream?
William Butler Yeats quotes: A living man is blind and drinks his drop.What matter if the ditches are impure?What matter if I live it all once more? A living man is blind and drinks his drop.
What matter if the ditches are impure?
What matter if I live it all once more?
William Butler Yeats quotes: The common breeds the common,A lout begets a lout,So when I take on half a scoreI knock their heads about. The common breeds the common,
A lout begets a lout,
So when I take on half a score
I knock their heads about.
William Butler Yeats quotes: A mouth that has no moisture and no breathBreathless mouths may summon;I hail the superhuman;I call it death-in-life and life-in-death. A mouth that has no moisture and no breath
Breathless mouths may summon;
I hail the superhuman;
I call it death-in-life and life-in-death.
William Butler Yeats quotes: May we two stand,When we are dead, beyond the setting suns,A little from other shades apart,With mingling hair, and play upon one lute. May we two stand,
When we are dead, beyond the setting suns,
A little from other shades apart,
With mingling hair, and play upon one lute.
William Butler Yeats quotes: But stories that live longestAre sung above the glass,And Parnell loved his countryAnd Parnell loved his lass. But stories that live longest
Are sung above the glass,
And Parnell loved his country
And Parnell loved his lass.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Boughs have their fruit and blossomAt all times of the year;Rivers are running overWith red beer and brown beer. Boughs have their fruit and blossom
At all times of the year;
Rivers are running over
With red beer and brown beer.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Time can but make it easier to be wise / Though now it seems impossible, and so / All that you need is patience. Time can but make it easier to be wise / Though now it seems impossible, and so / All that you need is patience.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Dream, dream, for this is also sooth. Dream, dream, for this is also sooth.
William Butler Yeats quotes: By logic and reason we die hourly; by imagination we live. By logic and reason we die hourly; by imagination we live.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Man can embody truth but he cannot know it. Man can embody truth but he cannot know it.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Farewell - farewell, For I am weary of the weight of time. Farewell - farewell, For I am weary of the weight of time.
William Butler Yeats quotes: It seems to me that true love is a discipline ... It seems to me that true love is a discipline ...
William Butler Yeats quotes: Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart. O when may it suffice? Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart. O when may it suffice?
William Butler Yeats quotes: The falcon cannot hear the falconer The falcon cannot hear the falconer
William Butler Yeats quotes: I know, although when looks meetI tremble to the bone,The more I leave the door unlatchedThe sooner love is gone ... I know, although when looks meet
I tremble to the bone,
The more I leave the door unlatched
The sooner love is gone ...
William Butler Yeats quotes: The poet is a good citizen turned inside out. The poet is a good citizen turned inside out.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Bodily decrepitude is wisdom; youngWe loved each other and were ignorant. Bodily decrepitude is wisdom; young
We loved each other and were ignorant.
William Butler Yeats quotes: O what fine thought we had because we thought that the worst rogues and rascals had died out. O what fine thought we had because we thought that the worst rogues and rascals had died out.
William Butler Yeats quotes: It's certain that fine women eat A crazy salad with their meat. It's certain that fine women eat A crazy salad with their meat.
William Butler Yeats quotes: When we have blamed the wind we can blame love ... When we have blamed the wind we can blame love ...
William Butler Yeats quotes: I believe ... that our memories are part of one great memory, the memory of Nature herself. I believe ... that our memories are part of one great memory, the memory of Nature herself.
William Butler Yeats quotes: I have often had the fancy that there is some one Myth for every man, which, if we but knew it, would make us understand all he did and thought. I have often had the fancy that there is some one Myth for every man, which, if we but knew it, would make us understand all he did and thought.
William Butler Yeats quotes: The problem wiv some blokes is that wen they ain't drunk, they're sober. The problem wiv some blokes is that wen they ain't drunk, they're sober.
William Butler Yeats quotes: What's memory but the ash That chokes our fires that have begun to sink? What's memory but the ash That chokes our fires that have begun to sink?
William Butler Yeats quotes: Wine comes in at the mouth And love comes in at the eye; That's all we shall know for truth Before we grow old and die. Wine comes in at the mouth And love comes in at the eye; That's all we shall know for truth Before we grow old and die.
William Butler Yeats quotes: True love is a discipline in which each divines the secret self of the other and refuses to believe in the mere daily self. True love is a discipline in which each divines the secret self of the other and refuses to believe in the mere daily self.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Players and painted stage took all my love, And not those things that they were emblems of. Players and painted stage took all my love, And not those things that they were emblems of.
William Butler Yeats quotes: We are fastened to a dying animal. We are fastened to a dying animal.
William Butler Yeats quotes: The Father and His angelic hierarchyThat made the magnitude and glory thereStood in the circuit of a needle's eye. The Father and His angelic hierarchy
That made the magnitude and glory there
Stood in the circuit of a needle's eye.
William Butler Yeats quotes: The Muse is mute when public menApplaud a modern throne. The Muse is mute when public men
Applaud a modern throne.
William Butler Yeats quotes: The only enemy of innocence and beauty is time. The only enemy of innocence and beauty is time.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Neither Christ nor Buddha nor Socrates wrote a book, for to do so is to exchange life for a logical process. Neither Christ nor Buddha nor Socrates wrote a book, for to do so is to exchange life for a logical process.
William Butler Yeats quotes: For how can you compete Being honour bred, with one Who, were it proved he lies, Were neither shamed in his own Nor in his neighbour's eyes? For how can you compete Being honour bred, with one Who, were it proved he lies, Were neither shamed in his own Nor in his neighbour's eyes?
William Butler Yeats quotes: I think it better that in times like these a poet's mouth be silent, for in truth we have no gift to set a statesman right. I think it better that in times like these a poet's mouth be silent, for in truth we have no gift to set a statesman right.
William Butler Yeats quotes: I would that I were an old beggarRolling a blind pearl eye,For he cannot see my ladyGo gallivanting by. I would that I were an old beggar
Rolling a blind pearl eye,
For he cannot see my lady
Go gallivanting by.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Maybe the bride-bed brings despair,For each an imagined image bringsAnd finds a real image there ... Maybe the bride-bed brings despair,
For each an imagined image brings
And finds a real image there ...
William Butler Yeats quotes: How can the arts overcome the slow dying of men's hearts that we call progress ? How can the arts overcome the slow dying of men's hearts that we call progress ?
William Butler Yeats quotes: Shakespearean fish swam the sea, far away from land;Romantic fish swam in nets coming to the hand ... Shakespearean fish swam the sea, far away from land;
Romantic fish swam in nets coming to the hand ...
William Butler Yeats quotes: It's certain there is no fine thing Since Adam's fall but needs much laboring. It's certain there is no fine thing Since Adam's fall but needs much laboring.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Thought is a garment and the soul's a brideThat cannot in that trash and tinsel hide:Hatred of God may bring the soul to God. Thought is a garment and the soul's a bride
That cannot in that trash and tinsel hide:
Hatred of God may bring the soul to God.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Sweetheart, do not love too long:I loved long and long,And grew to be out of fashionLike an old song. Sweetheart, do not love too long:
I loved long and long,
And grew to be out of fashion
Like an old song.
William Butler Yeats quotes: What can I but enumerate old themes? What can I but enumerate old themes?
William Butler Yeats quotes: His element is so fine Being sharpened by his death, To drink from the wine-breath While our gross palates drink from the whole wine. His element is so fine
Being sharpened by his death,
To drink from the wine-breath
While our gross palates drink from the whole wine.
William Butler Yeats quotes: All think what other people think;All know the man their neighbor knows.Lord, what would they sayDid their Catullus walk that way? All think what other people think;
All know the man their neighbor knows.
Lord, what would they say
Did their Catullus walk that way?
William Butler Yeats quotes: And the merry love the fiddle, and the merry love to dance. And the merry love the fiddle, and the merry love to dance.
William Butler Yeats quotes: There where the course is,Delight makes all of the one mind,The riders upon the galloping horses,The crowd that closes in behind ... There where the course is,
Delight makes all of the one mind,
The riders upon the galloping horses,
The crowd that closes in behind ...
William Butler Yeats quotes: All through the years of our youthNeither could have knownTheir own thought from the other's,We were so much at one. All through the years of our youth
Neither could have known
Their own thought from the other's,
We were so much at one.
William Butler Yeats quotes: It is love that I am seeking for, But of a beautiful, unheard-of kind That is not in the world. It is love that I am seeking for, But of a beautiful, unheard-of kind That is not in the world.
William Butler Yeats quotes: We are happy when for everything inside us there is a corresponding something outside us. We are happy when for everything inside us there is a corresponding something outside us.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Once you attempt legislation upon religious grounds, you open the way for every kind of intolerance and religious persecution. Once you attempt legislation upon religious grounds, you open the way for every kind of intolerance and religious persecution.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Come swish around my pretty punkAnd keep me dancing stillThat I may stay a sober manAlthough I drink my fill. Come swish around my pretty punk
And keep me dancing still
That I may stay a sober man
Although I drink my fill.
William Butler Yeats quotes: There is no deformity But saves us from a dream. There is no deformity But saves us from a dream.
William Butler Yeats quotes: If what I say resonates with you, it's merely because we're branches of the same tree. If what I say resonates with you, it's merely because we're branches of the same tree.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Joy is of the will which labours, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph. Joy is of the will which labours, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Between extremitiesMan runs his course;A brand, or flaming breath,Comes to destroyAll those antinomiesOf day and night ... Between extremities
Man runs his course;
A brand, or flaming breath,
Comes to destroy
All those antinomies
Of day and night ...
William Butler Yeats quotes: In mockery I have setA powerful emblem up,And sing it rhyme upon rhymeIn mockery of a timeHalf dead at the top. In mockery I have set
A powerful emblem up,
And sing it rhyme upon rhyme
In mockery of a time
Half dead at the top.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Life moves out of a red flare of dreams Into a common light of common hours, Until old age brings the red flare again. Life moves out of a red flare of dreams Into a common light of common hours, Until old age brings the red flare again.
William Butler Yeats quotes: A drunkard is a dead manAnd all dead men are drunk. A drunkard is a dead man
And all dead men are drunk.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Why should we honour those that die upon the field of battle? A man may show as reckless a courage in entering into the abyss of himself. Why should we honour those that die upon the field of battle? A man may show as reckless a courage in entering into the abyss of himself.
William Butler Yeats quotes: I have read somewhere that in the Emperor's palace at Byzantium was a tree made of gold and silver, and artificial birds that sang. I have read somewhere that in the Emperor's palace at Byzantium was a tree made of gold and silver, and artificial birds that sang.
William Butler Yeats quotes: I am of a healthy long lived race, and our minds improve with age. I am of a healthy long lived race, and our minds improve with age.
William Butler Yeats quotes: I summon to the winding ancient stair;Set all your mind upon the steep ascent I summon to the winding ancient stair;
Set all your mind upon the steep ascent
William Butler Yeats quotes: O would, beloved, that you layUnder the dock-leaves in the ground,While lights were paling one by one. O would, beloved, that you lay
Under the dock-leaves in the ground,
While lights were paling one by one.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Odor of blood when Christ was slain Made all Platonic tolerance vain And vain all Doric discipline. Odor of blood when Christ was slain Made all Platonic tolerance vain And vain all Doric discipline.
William Butler Yeats quotes: The true poet is all the time a visionary and whether with friends or not, as much alone as a man on his death bed. The true poet is all the time a visionary and whether with friends or not, as much alone as a man on his death bed.
William Butler Yeats quotes: The world being illusive, one must be deluded in some way if one is to triumph in it. The world being illusive, one must be deluded in some way if one is to triumph in it.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Come near; I would, before my time to go,Sing of old Eire and the ancient ways:Red Rose, proud Rose, sad Rose of all my days. Come near; I would, before my time to go,
Sing of old Eire and the ancient ways:
Red Rose, proud Rose, sad Rose of all my days.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Death and life were notTill man made up the whole,Made lock, stock and barrelOut of his bitter soul Death and life were not
Till man made up the whole,
Made lock, stock and barrel
Out of his bitter soul
William Butler Yeats quotes: The desire that is satisfied is not a great desire, nor has the shoulder used all its might that an unbreakable gate has never strained. The desire that is satisfied is not a great desire, nor has the shoulder used all its might that an unbreakable gate has never strained.
William Butler Yeats quotes: I had a chair at every hearth,When no one turned to see,With 'Look at that old fellow there,'And who may he be? I had a chair at every hearth,
When no one turned to see,
With 'Look at that old fellow there,
'And who may he be?
William Butler Yeats quotes: The unpurged images of day recede; The Emperor's drunken soldiery are abed; Night resonance recedes, night-walkers' song After great cathedral gong. The unpurged images of day recede; The Emperor's drunken soldiery are abed; Night resonance recedes, night-walkers' song After great cathedral gong.
William Butler Yeats quotes: What if I bade you leaveThe cavern of the mind?There's better exerciseIn the sunlight and wind. What if I bade you leave
The cavern of the mind?
There's better exercise
In the sunlight and wind.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Only the dead can be forgiven; But when I think of that my tongue's a stone. Only the dead can be forgiven; But when I think of that my tongue's a stone.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Laughter not time destroyed my voiceAnd put that crack in it,And when the moon's pot-belliedI get a laughing fit ... Laughter not time destroyed my voice
And put that crack in it,
And when the moon's pot-bellied
I get a laughing fit ...
William Butler Yeats quotes: Words alone are certain good. Words alone are certain good.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Not a man alive has so much luck that he can play with it. Not a man alive has so much luck that he can play with it.
William Butler Yeats quotes: O heart, we are old;The living beauty is for younger men:We cannot pay its tribute of wild tears. O heart, we are old;
The living beauty is for younger men:
We cannot pay its tribute of wild tears.
William Butler Yeats quotes: From dream to dream and rhyme to rhyme I have ranged / In rambling talk with an image of air: / Vague memories, nothing but memories. From dream to dream and rhyme to rhyme I have ranged / In rambling talk with an image of air: / Vague memories, nothing but memories.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, the blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned. Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, the blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Style, personality - deliberately adopted and therefore a mask - is the only escape from the hot-faced bargainers and money-changers. Style, personality - deliberately adopted and therefore a mask - is the only escape from the hot-faced bargainers and money-changers.
William Butler Yeats quotes: When I play on my fiddle in DooneyFolk dance like a wave on the sea. When I play on my fiddle in Dooney
Folk dance like a wave on the sea.
William Butler Yeats quotes: Ah, let us kiss each other's eyes,/And laugh our love away. Ah, let us kiss each other's eyes,/And laugh our love away.
William Butler Yeats quotes: In luck or out the toil has left its mark:That old perplexity an empty purse,Or the day's vanity, the night's remorse. In luck or out the toil has left its mark:
That old perplexity an empty purse,
Or the day's vanity, the night's remorse.

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