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

As life grows more terrible, its literature grows more terrible.

As life grows more terrible, its literature grows more terrible.

In the world of words, the imagination is one of the forces of nature.

In the world of words, the imagination is one of the forces of nature.

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...

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

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

Most people read poetry listening for echoes because the echoes are familiar to them. They...

Most people read poetry listening for echoes because the echoes are familiar to them. They...

Reality is not what it is. It consists of the many realities which it can...

Reality is not what it is. It consists of the many realities which it can...

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....

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,...

Accuracy of observation is the equivalent of accuracy of thinking.

Accuracy of observation is the equivalent of accuracy of thinking.

It can never be satisfied, the mind, never.

It can never be satisfied, the mind, never.

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...

The summer night is like a perfection of thought.

The summer night is like a perfection of thought.

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.

The genuine artist is never rue to life. He sees what is real, but not...

The genuine artist is never rue to life. He sees what is real, but not...

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...

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...

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

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

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.

For many people a job is more than an income, it's an important part of...

For many people a job is more than an income, it's an important part of...

There are only a few things that truly belong to me: Who I am, who...

There are only a few things that truly belong to me: Who I am, who...

He who knows others is learned; He who knows himself is wise.

He who knows others is learned; He who knows himself is wise.