What our eyes behold may well be the text of life but one's meditations on the text and the disclosures of these meditations are no less a part of the structure of reality.

Quote by Wallace Stevens

Topics: Wallace Stevens Quotes

As life grows more terrible, its literature grows more terrible.

As life grows more terrible, its literature grows more terrible.

To regard the imagination as metaphysics is to think of it as part of life,...

To regard the imagination as metaphysics is to think of it as part of life,...

There is truth in the reply of a great lawyer when asked how the lawyers...

There is truth in the reply of a great lawyer when asked how the lawyers...

In the world of words, the imagination is one of the forces of nature.

In the world of words, the imagination is one of the forces of nature.

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.

Death is the mother of Beauty; hence from her, alone, shall come fulfillment to our...

Death is the mother of Beauty; hence from her, alone, shall come fulfillment to our...

A poem need not have a meaning and like most things in nature often does...

A poem need not have a meaning and like most things in nature often does...

New York is a field of tireless and antagonistic interests undoubtedly fascinating but horribly unreal....

New York is a field of tireless and antagonistic interests undoubtedly fascinating but horribly unreal....

Money is a kind of poetry.

Money is a kind of poetry.

Nothing could be more inappropriate to American literature than its English source since the Americans...

Nothing could be more inappropriate to American literature than its English source since the Americans...

Intolerance respecting other people's religion is toleration itself in comparison with intolerance respecting other people's...

Intolerance respecting other people's religion is toleration itself in comparison with intolerance respecting other people's...

Our bloom is gone. We are the fruit thereof.

Our bloom is gone. We are the fruit thereof.

The imagination is man's power over nature.

The imagination is man's power over nature.

Reality is not what it is. It consists of the many realities which it can...

Reality is not what it is. It consists of the many realities which it can...

We say God and the imagination are one... How high that highest candle lights the...

We say God and the imagination are one... How high that highest candle lights the...

If some really acute observer made as much of egotism as Freud has made of...

If some really acute observer made as much of egotism as Freud has made of...

The reason can give nothing at all Like the response to desire.

The reason can give nothing at all Like the response to desire.

One cannot spend one's time in being modern when there are so many more important...

One cannot spend one's time in being modern when there are so many more important...

After the final no there comes a yes and on that yes the future of...

After the final no there comes a yes and on that yes the future of...

Most people read poetry listening for echoes because the echoes are familiar to them. They...

Most people read poetry listening for echoes because the echoes are familiar to them. They...