The genuine artist is never rue to life. He sees what is real, but not as we are normally aware of it. We do not go storming through life like actors in a play. Art is never real life.

Quote by Wallace Stevens

Topics: Wallace Stevens Quotes

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

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

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

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

Reality is not what it is. It consists of the many realities which it can...

Reality is not what it is. It consists of the many realities which it can...

Style is not something applied. It is something that permeates. It is of the nature...

Style is not something applied. It is something that permeates. It is of the 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.

If poetry should address itself to the same needs and aspirations, the same hopes and...

If poetry should address itself to the same needs and aspirations, the same hopes and...

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...

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 poet is the priest of the invisible.

The poet is the priest of the invisible.

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...

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.

Our bloom is gone. We are the fruit thereof.

Our bloom is gone. We are the fruit thereof.

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...

One's ignorance is one's chief asset.

One's ignorance is one's chief asset.

The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream.

The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream.

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.

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...

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.

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

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