Most people read poetry listening for echoes because the echoes are familiar to them. They wade through it the way a boy wades through water, feeling with his toes for the bottom: The echoes are the bottom.

Quote by Wallace Stevens

Topics: Wallace Stevens Quotes

One's ignorance is one's chief asset.

One's ignorance is one's chief asset.

Our bloom is gone. We are the fruit thereof.

Our bloom is gone. We are the fruit thereof.

The imagination is man's power over nature.

The imagination is man's power over nature.

Perhaps it is of more value to infuriate philosophers than to go along with them.

Perhaps it is of more value to infuriate philosophers than to go along with them.

After the final no there comes a yes and on that yes the future of...

After the final no there comes a yes and on that yes the future of...

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.

I do not know which to prefer, The beauty of inflections, Or the beauty of...

I do not know which to prefer, The beauty of inflections, Or the beauty of...

The poet is the priest of the invisible.

The poet is the priest of the invisible.

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

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

Intolerance respecting other people's religion is toleration itself in comparison with intolerance respecting other people's...

Intolerance respecting other people's religion is toleration itself in comparison with intolerance respecting other people's...

The most beautiful thing in the world is, of course, the world itself.

The most beautiful thing in the world is, of course, the world itself.

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...

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.

The philosopher proves that the philosopher exists. The poet merely enjoys existence.

The philosopher proves that the philosopher exists. The poet merely enjoys existence.

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...

There is truth in the reply of a great lawyer when asked how the lawyers...

There is truth in the reply of a great lawyer when asked how the lawyers...

A tremendous number of people in America work very hard at something that bores them....

A tremendous number of people in America work very hard at something that bores them....

Being offended is a natural consequence of leaving the house

Being offended is a natural consequence of leaving the house

American grammar doesn't have the sturdiness of British grammar (a British advertising man with a...

American grammar doesn't have the sturdiness of British grammar (a British advertising man with a...

The portion of a law usually found unconstitutional is the teeth

The portion of a law usually found unconstitutional is the teeth

A lawyer is a learned gentleman who rescues your estate from your enemies and keeps...

A lawyer is a learned gentleman who rescues your estate from your enemies and keeps...

Truth is the most powerful thing in the world, since even fiction itself must be...

Truth is the most powerful thing in the world, since even fiction itself must be...