I wish our clever young poets would remember my homely definitions of prose and poetry; that is, prose = words in their best order; - poetry = the best words in the best order.

Quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Topics: Samuel Taylor Coleridge Quotes

Common-sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.

Common-sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.

Works of imagination should be written in very plain language; the more purely imaginative they...

Works of imagination should be written in very plain language; the more purely imaginative they...

A mother is a mother still, The holiest thing alive.

A mother is a mother still, The holiest thing alive.

Talk of the devil, and his horns appear

Talk of the devil, and his horns appear

I have seen great intolerance shown in support of tolerance.

I have seen great intolerance shown in support of tolerance.

No one does anything from a single motive.

No one does anything from a single motive.

People of humor are always in some degree people of genius.

People of humor are always in some degree people of genius.

Facts are not truths; they are not conclusions; they are not even premises, but in...

Facts are not truths; they are not conclusions; they are not even premises, but in...

Poetry has been to me its own exceeding great reward; it has given me the...

Poetry has been to me its own exceeding great reward; it has given me the...

A man's desire is for the woman, but the woman's desire is rarely other than...

A man's desire is for the woman, but the woman's desire is rarely other than...

The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions - the little, soon forgotten...

$The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions - the little, soon forgotten...$

In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in failure.

In politics, what begins in fear usually ends in failure.

And the Devil did grin, for his darling sin is pride that apes humility.

And the Devil did grin, for his darling sin is pride that apes humility.

To most men, experience is like the stern lights of a ship, which illumine only...

To most men, experience is like the stern lights of a ship, which illumine only...

The most happy marriage I can imagine to myself would be the union of a...

The most happy marriage I can imagine to myself would be the union of a...

Love is flower like; Friendship is like a sheltering tree

Love is flower like; Friendship is like a sheltering tree

Language is the armory of the human mind, and at once contains the trophies of...

Language is the armory of the human mind, and at once contains the trophies of...

Christianity is not a theory or speculation, but a life; not a philosophy of life,...

Christianity is not a theory or speculation, but a life; not a philosophy of life,...

The man's desire is for the woman; but the woman's desire is rarely other than...

The man's desire is for the woman; but the woman's desire is rarely other than...

Until you understand a writer's ignorance, presume yourself ignorant of his understanding.

Until you understand a writer's ignorance, presume yourself ignorant of his understanding.