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

Beauty is momentary in the mind The fitful tracing of a portal; But in the...

Beauty is momentary in the mind The fitful tracing of a portal; But in the...

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

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

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.

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...

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

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

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...

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 fire burns as the novel taught it how.

The fire burns as the novel taught it how.

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.

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,...

Money is a kind of poetry.

Money is a kind of poetry.

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

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

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...

It can never be satisfied, the mind, never.

It can never be satisfied, the mind, never.

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...

The imagination is man's power over nature.

The imagination is man's power over nature.

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...