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

Quote by John Ciardi

Topics: John Ciardi Quotes

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

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

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...

The day will happen whether or not you get up.

The day will happen whether or not you get up.

Poetry lies its way to the truth.

Poetry lies its way to the truth.

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...

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...

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.

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

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

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 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...

What has any poet to trust more than the feel of the thing? Theory concerns...

What has any poet to trust more than the feel of the thing? Theory concerns...

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 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.

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...

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

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

There is nothing wrong with sobriety in moderation.

There is nothing wrong with sobriety in moderation.

Early to bed and early to rise probably indicates unskilled labor.

Early to bed and early to rise probably indicates unskilled labor.

Birth control that really works - every night before we go to bed we spend...

Birth control that really works - every night before we go to bed we spend...

I didn't beat her. I just pushed her out of bed.

I didn't beat her. I just pushed her out of bed.

When I'm alone, I can sleep crossways in bed without an argument.

When I'm alone, I can sleep crossways in bed without an argument.

The business of the novelist is not to relate great events, but to make small...

The business of the novelist is not to relate great events, but to make small...

Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.

Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.