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

Quote by Joseph Brodsky

Topics: Joseph Brodsky Quotes

Who included me among the ranks of the human race?

Who included me among the ranks of the human race?

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.

The poetic notion of infinity is far greater than that which is sponsored by any...

The poetic notion of infinity is far greater than that which is sponsored by any...

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

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

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...

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.

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...

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...

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.

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...

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

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

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...

Twentieth-century Russian literature has produced nothing special except perhaps one novel and two stories by...

Twentieth-century Russian literature has produced nothing special except perhaps one novel and two stories by...

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,...

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.

Life is a game with many rules but no referee. One learns how to play...

Life is a game with many rules but no referee. One learns how to play...

How delightful to find a friend in everyone.

How delightful to find a friend in everyone.

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...

It is well to read everything of something, and something of everything.

It is well to read everything of something, and something of everything.

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...