But when the pen is in his hand he has to write by itch and twitch, though certainly his itch and twitch are intimately conditioned by all his past itching and twitching, and by all his past theorizing about them.

Quote by John Ciardi

Topics: Writing Quotes

Nothing goes further toward a man's liberation than the act of surviving his need for...

Nothing goes further toward a man's liberation than the act of surviving his need for...

Nothing goes further toward a man's liberation than the act of surviving his need for...

Nothing goes further toward a man's liberation than the act of surviving his need for...

The Constitution gives every American the inalienable right to make a damn fool of himself.

The Constitution gives every American the inalienable right to make a damn fool of himself.

It is easy enough to praise men for the courage of their convictions. I wish...

It is easy enough to praise men for the courage of their convictions. I wish...

Every game ever invented by mankind, is a way of making things hard for the...

Every game ever invented by mankind, is a way of making things hard for the...

Love is the word used to label the sexual excitement of the young, the habituation...

Love is the word used to label the sexual excitement of the young, the habituation...

The day will happen whether or not you get up.

The day will happen whether or not you get up.

Modern art is what happens when painters stop looking at girls and persuade themselves that...

Modern art is what happens when painters stop looking at girls and persuade themselves that...

Poetry lies its way to the truth.

Poetry lies its way to the truth.

Intelligence recognizes what has happened. Genius recognizes what will happen.

Intelligence recognizes what has happened. Genius recognizes what will happen.

The classroom should be an entrance into the world, not an escape from it.

The classroom should be an entrance into the world, not an escape from it.

A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in students.

A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in students.

You don't have to suffer to be a poet; adolescence is enough suffering for anyone.

You don't have to suffer to be a poet; adolescence is enough suffering for anyone.

Gentility is what is left over from rich ancestors after the money is gone.

Gentility is what is left over from rich ancestors after the money is gone.

A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in the students.

A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in the students.

A good question is never answered. It is not a bolt to be tightened into...

A good question is never answered. It is not a bolt to be tightened into...

Written by a sponge dipped in warm milk and sprinkled with sugar.

Written by a sponge dipped in warm milk and sprinkled with sugar.

Every parent is at some time the father of the unreturned prodigal, with nothing to...

Every parent is at some time the father of the unreturned prodigal, with nothing to...

What has any poet to trust more than the feel of the thing? Theory concerns...

What has any poet to trust more than the feel of the thing? Theory concerns...

There is nothing wrong with sobriety in moderation.

There is nothing wrong with sobriety in moderation.