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

Nothing could be more inappropriate to American literature than its English source since the Americans...

Nothing could be more inappropriate to American literature than its English source since the Americans...

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

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

We say God and the imagination are one... How high that highest candle lights the...

We say God and the imagination are one... How high that highest candle lights the...

Accuracy of observation is the equivalent of accuracy of thinking.

Accuracy of observation is the equivalent of accuracy of thinking.

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...

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.

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

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

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...

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 point of vision and desire are the same.

The point of vision and desire are the same.

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...

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.

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.

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,...

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

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

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...

The summer night is like a perfection of thought.

The summer night is like a perfection of thought.

Heat, ma'am! it was so dreadful here, that I found there was nothing left for...

Heat, ma'am! it was so dreadful here, that I found there was nothing left for...

It's the end of the summer. It's the end of it all. Those days are...

It's the end of the summer. It's the end of it all. Those days are...

Summer time an' the livin' is easy, Fish are jumpin' an' the cotton is high.

Summer time an' the livin' is easy, Fish are jumpin' an' the cotton is high.