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

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...

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.

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...

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...

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 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...

The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream.

The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream.

One cannot spend one's time in being modern when there are so many more important...

One cannot spend one's time in being modern when there are so many more important...

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 poet is the priest of the invisible.

The poet is the priest of the invisible.

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,...

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.

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.

The summer night is like a perfection of thought.

The summer night is like a perfection of thought.

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

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

The point of vision and desire are the same.

The point of vision and desire are the same.

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.

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....