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

Quote by Wallace Stevens

Topics: Wallace Stevens Quotes

The poet is the priest of the invisible.

The poet is the priest of the invisible.

What our eyes behold may well be the text of life but one's meditations on...

What our eyes behold may well be the text of life but one's meditations on...

One's ignorance is one's chief asset.

One's ignorance is one's chief asset.

Thought is an infection. In the case of certain thoughts, it becomes an epidemic.

Thought is an infection. In the case of certain thoughts, it becomes an epidemic.

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...

Accuracy of observation is the equivalent of accuracy of thinking.

Accuracy of observation is the equivalent of accuracy of thinking.

It is the unknown that excites the ardor of scholars, who, in the known alone,...

It is the unknown that excites the ardor of scholars, who, in the known alone,...

Poor, dear, silly Spring, preparing her annual surprise!

Poor, dear, silly Spring, preparing her annual surprise!

How full of trifles everything is! It is only one's thoughts that fill a room...

How full of trifles everything is! It is only one's thoughts that fill a room...

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 way through the world is more difficult to find than the way beyond it.

The way through the world is more difficult to find than the way beyond it.

The fire burns as the novel taught it how.

The fire burns as the novel taught it how.

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

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

If poetry should address itself to the same needs and aspirations, the same hopes and...

If poetry should address itself to the same needs and aspirations, the same hopes and...

Money is a kind of poetry.

Money is a kind of poetry.

In poetry, you must love the words, the ideas and the images and rhythms with...

In poetry, you must love the words, the ideas and the images and rhythms with...

A poet looks at the world the way a man looks at a woman.

A poet looks at the world the way a man looks at a woman.

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,...

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....

Everything is complicated; if that were not so, life and poetry and everything else would...

Everything is complicated; if that were not so, life and poetry and everything else would...