No poet or novelist wishes he were the only one who ever lived, but most of them wish they were the only one alive, and quite a number fondly believe their wish has been granted.

Quote by W H Auden

Topics: W. H. Auden Quotes

He was my North, my South, my East and West.

He was my North, my South, my East and West.

No good opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are...

No good opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are...

Every American poet feels that the whole responsibility for contemporary poetry has fallen upon his...

Every American poet feels that the whole responsibility for contemporary poetry has fallen upon his...

A tremendous number of people in America work very hard at something that bores them....

A tremendous number of people in America work very hard at something that bores them....

Murder is unique in that it abolishes the party it injures, so that society has...

Murder is unique in that it abolishes the party it injures, so that society has...

Almost all of our relationships begin and most of them continue as forms of mutual...

Almost all of our relationships begin and most of them continue as forms of mutual...

It's frightening how easy it is to commit murder in America. Just a drink too...

It's frightening how easy it is to commit murder in America. Just a drink too...

A poet can write about a man slaying a dragon, but not about a man...

A poet can write about a man slaying a dragon, but not about a man...

I sit in one of the dives On Fifty-Second Street Uncertain and afraid As the...

I sit in one of the dives On Fifty-Second Street Uncertain and afraid As the...

In relation to a writer, most readers believe in the Double Standard: they may be...

In relation to a writer, most readers believe in the Double Standard: they may be...

For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?

For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?

The center that I cannot find is known to my unconscious mind.

The center that I cannot find is known to my unconscious mind.

Death is the sound of distant thunder at a picnic.

Death is the sound of distant thunder at a picnic.

We are not commanded (or forbidden) to love our mates, our children, our friends, our...

We are not commanded (or forbidden) to love our mates, our children, our friends, our...

Some books are undeservedly forgotten; none are undeservedly remembered.

Some books are undeservedly forgotten; none are undeservedly remembered.

The image of myself which I try to create in my own mind in order...

The image of myself which I try to create in my own mind in order...

A tremendous number of people in America work very hard at something that bores them....

A tremendous number of people in America work very hard at something that bores them....

I have found out in later years [that] we were very poor, but the glory...

I have found out in later years [that] we were very poor, but the glory...

Americans can eat garbage, provided you sprinkle it liberally with ketchup, mustard, chili sauce, Tabasco...

Americans can eat garbage, provided you sprinkle it liberally with ketchup, mustard, chili sauce, Tabasco...

You can always get the truth from an American statesman after he has turned seventy,...

You can always get the truth from an American statesman after he has turned seventy,...

I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work,...

I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work,...