The words of a dead man are modified in the guts of the living.

Quote by W H Auden

Topics: W H Auden Quotes

A poet is a professional maker of verbal objects.

A poet is a professional maker of verbal objects.

History is, strictly speaking, the study of questions; the study of answers belongs to anthropology...

History is, strictly speaking, the study of questions; the study of answers belongs to anthropology...

Literary confessors are contemptible, like beggars who exhibit their sores for money, but not so...

Literary confessors are contemptible, like beggars who exhibit their sores for money, but not so...

What the mass media offers is not popular art, but entertainment which is intended to...

What the mass media offers is not popular art, but entertainment which is intended to...

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...

Music can be made anywhere, is invisible and does not smell.

Music can be made anywhere, is invisible and does not smell.

I'll love you, dear, I'll love you till China and Africa meet and the river...

I'll love you, dear, I'll love you till China and Africa meet and the river...

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...

Men make the mistake of thinking that because women can't see the sense in violence,...

Men make the mistake of thinking that because women can't see the sense in violence,...

To save your world you asked this man to die; would this man, could he...

To save your world you asked this man to die; would this man, could he...

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...

In times of joy, all of us wished we possessed a tail we could wag.

In times of joy, all of us wished we possessed a tail we could wag.

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...

It takes little talent to see what lies under one's nose, a good deal to...

It takes little talent to see what lies under one's nose, a good deal to...

Men will pay large sums to whores for telling them they are not bores.

Men will pay large sums to whores for telling them they are not bores.

No hero is immortal till he dies

No hero is immortal till he dies

No hero is mortal till he dies.

No hero is mortal till he dies.

No poet or novelist wishes he were the only one who ever lived, but most...

No poet or novelist wishes he were the only one who ever lived, but most...

Health is the state about which medicine has nothing to say.

Health is the state about which medicine has nothing to say.

Let mortals beware of words For with words we lie Can speak peace When we...

Let mortals beware of words For with words we lie Can speak peace When we...