What has any poet to trust more than the feel of the thing? Theory concerns him only until he picks up his pen, and it begins to concern him again as soon as he lays it down.

Quote by John Ciardi

Topics: John Ciardi Quotes

Gentility is what is left over from rich ancestors after the money is gone.

Gentility is what is left over from rich ancestors after the money is gone.

It is easy enough to praise men for the courage of their convictions. I wish...

It is easy enough to praise men for the courage of their convictions. I wish...

Intelligence recognizes what has happened. Genius recognizes what will happen.

Intelligence recognizes what has happened. Genius recognizes what will happen.

Every parent is at some time the father of the unreturned prodigal, with nothing to...

Every parent is at some time the father of the unreturned prodigal, with nothing to...

Nothing goes further toward a man's liberation than the act of surviving his need for...

Nothing goes further toward a man's liberation than the act of surviving his need for...

Poetry lies its way to the truth.

Poetry lies its way to the truth.

Written by a sponge dipped in warm milk and sprinkled with sugar.

Written by a sponge dipped in warm milk and sprinkled with sugar.

The Constitution gives every American the inalienable right to make a damn fool of himself.

The Constitution gives every American the inalienable right to make a damn fool of himself.

You don't have to suffer to be a poet; adolescence is enough suffering for anyone.

You don't have to suffer to be a poet; adolescence is enough suffering for anyone.

Modern art is what happens when painters stop looking at girls and persuade themselves that...

Modern art is what happens when painters stop looking at girls and persuade themselves that...

Nothing goes further toward a man's liberation than the act of surviving his need for...

Nothing goes further toward a man's liberation than the act of surviving his need for...

A neighborhood is a residential area that is changing for the worse.

A neighborhood is a residential area that is changing for the worse.

A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in the students.

A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in the students.

Love is the word used to label the sexual excitement of the young, the habituation...

Love is the word used to label the sexual excitement of the young, the habituation...

But when the pen is in his hand he has to write by itch and...

But when the pen is in his hand he has to write by itch and...

The classroom should be an entrance into the world, not an escape from it.

The classroom should be an entrance into the world, not an escape from it.

There is nothing wrong with sobriety in moderation.

There is nothing wrong with sobriety in moderation.

The reader deserves an honest opinion. If he doesn't deserve it, give it to him...

The reader deserves an honest opinion. If he doesn't deserve it, give it to him...

A good question is never answered. It is not a bolt to be tightened into...

A good question is never answered. It is not a bolt to be tightened into...

Every game ever invented by mankind, is a way of making things hard for the...

Every game ever invented by mankind, is a way of making things hard for the...