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: Poetry Quotes, Reading 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!

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...

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.

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

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

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,...

Our bloom is gone. We are the fruit thereof.

Our bloom is gone. We are the fruit thereof.

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.

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

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

The summer night is like a perfection of thought.

The summer night is like a perfection of thought.

The fire burns as the novel taught it how.

The fire burns as the novel taught it how.

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,...

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...

It can never be satisfied, the mind, never.

It can never be satisfied, the mind, never.

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.

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...

The day of the sun is like the day of a king. It is a...

The day of the sun is like the day of a king. It is a...

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...