A real book is not one that we read, but one that reads us.
W.H. Auden
Reading, Literature, Self-discovery, Interaction, Literary Critique
W.H. Auden’s Quotes On Topics
Commissioning | Warfare | Theater | Imagery | Work Ethic | Simplicity | Acting | Conflict | Exclusivity | Autumn | Landscape | Psychological Insight | Literary Critique | Divine Perspective | Delusion | Uniqueness | Individual Potential | Isolation | Infidelity | Prose | More
More W.H. Auden Quotes
“Cats can be very funny, and have the oddest ways of showing they’re glad to see you...” W.H. Auden
Cats, Humor, Affection, Companionship, Animal Behavior
W.H. Auden Cats, Humor, Affection, Companionship, Animal Behavior“In times of joy, all of us wished we possessed a tail we could wag.” W.H. Auden
Joy, Expression, Human Nature, Animal Comparison, Happiness
W.H. Auden Joy, Expression, Human Nature, Animal Comparison, Happiness“All poets adore explosions, thunderstorms, tornadoes, conflagrations, ruins, scenes of spectacular carnage. The poetic imagination is therefore not at all a desirable quality in a chief of state.” W.H. Auden
Poetry, Imagination, Violence, Leadership, Artistic Temperament
W.H. Auden Poetry, Imagination, Violence, Leadership, Artistic Temperament“The center that I cannot find is known to my unconscious mind.” W.H. Auden
Self-discovery, Unconscious, Psychology, Inner Life, Mystery
W.H. Auden Self-discovery, Unconscious, Psychology, Inner Life, Mystery“The world needs a wash and a week's rest.” W.H. Auden
World-weariness, Rest, Renewal, Metaphor, Social Commentary
W.H. Auden World-weariness, Rest, Renewal, Metaphor, Social Commentary“A poet is a professional maker of verbal objects.” W.H. Auden
Poetry, Craftsmanship, Language, Creativity, Profession
W.H. Auden Poetry, Craftsmanship, Language, Creativity, Profession“Between friends, differences in taste or opinion are irritating in direct proportion to their triviality.” W.H. Auden
Friendship, Differences, Perspective, Human Relationships, Irritations
W.H. Auden Friendship, Differences, Perspective, Human Relationships, Irritations“Words are for those with promises to keep.” W.H. Auden
Words, Promises, Responsibility, Communication, Commitment
W.H. Auden Words, Promises, Responsibility, Communication, Commitment“Sob, heavy world Sob as you spin, Mantled in mist Remote from the happy.” W.H. Auden
World-weariness, Sadness, Isolation, Cosmic Imagery, Human Condition
W.H. Auden World-weariness, Sadness, Isolation, Cosmic Imagery, Human Condition“Drama began as the act of a whole community. Ideally, there would be no speculators. In practice, every member of the audience should feel like an understudy.” W.H. Auden
Drama, Community, Participation, Audience, Ideal Theater
W.H. Auden Drama, Community, Participation, Audience, Ideal Theater“The surest sign that a man has a genuine taste of his own is that he is uncertain of it.” W.H. Auden
Taste, Uncertainty, Individuality, Self-doubt, Authenticity
W.H. Auden Taste, Uncertainty, Individuality, Self-doubt, Authenticity“All good art is in the nature of a letter written to amuse a sick friend. Too much art, particularly in our time, is only a letter written to oneself.” W.H. Auden
Art, Purpose, Friendship, Self-indulgence, Communication
W.H. Auden Art, Purpose, Friendship, Self-indulgence, Communication“Music is the best means we have of digesting time.” W.H. Auden
Music, Time, Perception, Experience, Metaphor
W.H. Auden Music, Time, Perception, Experience, Metaphor“Harrow the house of the dead; look shining at New styles of architecture, a change of heart.” W.H. Auden
Change, Renewal, Architecture, Metaphor, Transformation
W.H. Auden Change, Renewal, Architecture, Metaphor, Transformation“Whatever the field under discussion, those who engage in debate must not only believe in each other's good faith, but also in their capacity to arrive at the truth.” W.H. Auden
Debate, Good Faith, Truth-seeking, Intellectual Honesty, Mutual Respect
W.H. Auden Debate, Good Faith, Truth-seeking, Intellectual Honesty, Mutual Respect“Intellectual disgrace Stares from every human face, And the seas of pity lie Locked and frozen in each eye.” W.H. Auden
Intellectual Failure, Human Condition, Empathy, Societal Critique, Poetic Imagery
W.H. Auden Intellectual Failure, Human Condition, Empathy, Societal Critique, Poetic Imagery“In times of trouble, fiction, and only fiction, has offered consolation.” W.H. Auden
Fiction, Comfort, Literature, Emotional Support, Escapism
W.H. Auden Fiction, Comfort, Literature, Emotional Support, Escapism“It's frightening how easy it is to commit murder in America. Just a drink too much. I can see myself doing it. In England, one feels all the social restraints holding one back. But here, anything can happen.” W.H. Auden
Violence, America, Cultural Differences, Social Restraints, Potential For Evil
W.H. Auden Violence, America, Cultural Differences, Social Restraints, Potential For Evil