Evil is unspectacular and always human, and shares our bed and eats at our own table.
W.H. Auden
Evil, Humanity, Moral Complexity, Everyday Life, Introspection
W.H. Auden’s Quotes On Topics
Commentary | Unconscious | Cultural Criticism | Psychology | Local | Interests | Self-expression | Transactional | Ignorance | Marriage | Commitment | Choice | Self-perception | Rules | Aging | Aphorisms | Appearance | Morality | Unity | Recognition | More
More W.H. Auden Quotes
“Few people take an interest in Iceland, but in those few the interest is passionate.” W.H. Auden
Iceland, Passion, Niche Interest, Dedication, Exclusivity
W.H. Auden Iceland, Passion, Niche Interest, Dedication, Exclusivity“The commonest ivory tower is that of the average man, the state of passivity towards experience.” W.H. Auden
Ivory Tower, Average Person, Passivity, Experience, Social Commentary
W.H. Auden Ivory Tower, Average Person, Passivity, Experience, Social Commentary“Detective stories have nothing to do with works of art.” W.H. Auden
Detective Fiction, Art, Literary Criticism, Genre Distinction, Value Judgment
W.H. Auden Detective Fiction, Art, Literary Criticism, Genre Distinction, Value Judgment“It's usually the stupid people that develop long illnesses. You need more than indolence and selfishness, you need endurance to make a good patient.” W.H. Auden
Illness, Intelligence, Patience, Endurance, Social Commentary
W.H. Auden Illness, Intelligence, Patience, Endurance, Social Commentary“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“Time will say nothing but I told you so, Time only knows the price we have to pay; If I could tell you I would let you know.” W.H. Auden
Time, Wisdom, Consequences, Knowledge, Mystery
W.H. Auden Time, Wisdom, Consequences, Knowledge, Mystery“In the end, art is small beer. The really serious things are earning one's living so as not to be a parasite and loving one's neighbor.” W.H. Auden
Art, Priorities, Work Ethic, Love, Social Responsibility
W.H. Auden Art, Priorities, Work Ethic, Love, Social Responsibility“People always get what they want. But there is a price for everything. Failures are either those who do not know what they want or are not prepared to pay the price asked them. The price varies from individual to individual. Some get things at bargain-sale prices, others only at famine prices. But it is no use grumbling. Whatever price you are asked, you must pay.” W.H. Auden
Desire, Price, Failure, Individual Differences, Acceptance
W.H. Auden Desire, Price, Failure, Individual Differences, Acceptance“There is no love; There are only the various envies, all of them sad.” W.H. Auden
Love, Envy, Cynicism, Human Emotion, Disillusionment
W.H. Auden Love, Envy, Cynicism, Human Emotion, Disillusionment“Happy the hare at morning, for she cannot read The hunter's waking thoughts.” W.H. Auden
Innocence, Nature, Ignorance, Danger, Animal Metaphor
W.H. Auden Innocence, Nature, Ignorance, Danger, Animal Metaphor“It is axiomatic that we should all think of ourselves as being more sensitive than other people because, when we are insensitive in our dealings with others, we cannot be aware of it at the time; conscious insensitivity is a self-contradiction.” W.H. Auden
Sensitivity, Self-awareness, Human Nature, Social Interaction, Paradox
W.H. Auden Sensitivity, Self-awareness, Human Nature, Social Interaction, Paradox“Young people, who are still uncertain of their identity, often try on a succession of masks in the hope of finding the one which suits them – the one, in fact, which is not a mask.” W.H. Auden
Identity, Youth, Self-exploration, Authenticity, Masks
W.H. Auden Identity, Youth, Self-exploration, Authenticity, Masks“Composing mortals with immortal fire.” W.H. Auden
Creativity, Mortality, Art, Inspiration, Poetic Imagery
W.H. Auden Creativity, Mortality, Art, Inspiration, Poetic Imagery“Ideally, government is the means by which all the individual wills are assured complete freedom of moral choice and at the same time prevented from ever clashing.” W.H. Auden
Government, Freedom, Morality, Social Harmony, Political Idealism
W.H. Auden Government, Freedom, Morality, Social Harmony, Political Idealism“Evil is always unspectacular and always human.” W.H. Auden
Evil, Human Nature, Banality, Morality, Philosophical Insight
W.H. Auden Evil, Human Nature, Banality, Morality, Philosophical Insight