Twentieth-century Russian literature has produced nothing special except perhaps one novel and two stories by Andrei Platonov, who ended his days sweeping streets.

Quote by Joseph Brodsky

Topics: Literature 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.

Every individual ought to know at least one poet from cover to cover: if not...

Every individual ought to know at least one poet from cover to cover: if not...

What I like about cities is that everything is king size, the beauty and the...

What I like about cities is that everything is king size, the beauty and the...

Life - the way it really is - is a battle not between Bad and...

Life - the way it really is - is a battle not between Bad and...

For boredom speaks the language of time, and it is to teach you the most...

For boredom speaks the language of time, and it is to teach you the most...

After all, it is hard to master both life and work equally well. So if...

After all, it is hard to master both life and work equally well. So if...

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.

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.

It would be enough for me to have the system of a jury of twelve...

It would be enough for me to have the system of a jury of twelve...

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.

Bad literature is a form of treason.

Bad literature is a form of treason.

Life, the way it really is, is a battle not between Bad and Good but...

Life, the way it really is, is a battle not between Bad and Good but...

I do not believe in political movements. I believe in personal movement, that movement of...

I do not believe in political movements. I believe in personal movement, that movement of...

Bad literature is a form of treason.

Bad literature is a form of treason.

A language is a more ancient and inevitable thing than any state.

A language is a more ancient and inevitable thing than any state.

The real history of consciousness starts with one's first lie.

The real history of consciousness starts with one's first lie.

Snobbery? But it's only a form of despair.

Snobbery? But it's only a form of despair.

For the poet the credo or doctrine is not the point of arrival but is,...

For the poet the credo or doctrine is not the point of arrival but is,...

Man is what he reads.

Man is what he reads.

Who included me among the ranks of the human race?

Who included me among the ranks of the human race?