Here am I, Here are you: but what does it mean? What are we going to do?
W.H. Auden
Existence, Purpose, Relationships, Uncertainty, Action
W.H. Auden’s Quotes On Topics
Ambition | Foreign Policy | Etiquette | England | Modern Relationships | Escapism | Emotional Depth | Religion | Clergy | Encouragement | Autobiography | Professions | Futility | Character | Culture | Modernity | Catastrophe | Animal Behavior | Retribution | Awe | More
More W.H. Auden Quotes
“Herds of reindeer move across Miles and miles of golden moss.” W.H. Auden
Nature, Movement, Beauty, Landscape, Imagery
W.H. Auden Nature, Movement, Beauty, Landscape, Imagery“Literary confessors are contemptible, like beggars who exhibit their sores for money, but not so contemptible as the public that buys their books.” W.H. Auden
Literary Criticism, Confessional Writing, Public Consumption, Contempt, Hypocrisy
W.H. Auden Literary Criticism, Confessional Writing, Public Consumption, Contempt, Hypocrisy“The most exciting rhythms seem unexpected and complex, the most beautiful melodies simple and inevitable.” W.H. Auden
Music, Complexity, Simplicity, Beauty, Artistic Perception
W.H. Auden Music, Complexity, Simplicity, Beauty, Artistic Perception“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“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“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“To ask the hard question is simple.” W.H. Auden
Questioning, Simplicity, Complexity, Inquiry, Philosophical Thought
W.H. Auden Questioning, Simplicity, Complexity, Inquiry, Philosophical Thought“Music can be made anywhere, is invisible and does not smell.” W.H. Auden
Music, Creativity, Accessibility, Art, Sensory Experience
W.H. Auden Music, Creativity, Accessibility, Art, Sensory Experience“If a writer is not afraid of dying of exposure, he is an idiot.” W.H. Auden
Writing, Risk, Exposure, Bravery, Artistic Integrity
W.H. Auden Writing, Risk, Exposure, Bravery, Artistic Integrity“See without looking, hear without listening, breathe without asking.” W.H. Auden
Sensory Perception, Mindfulness, Intuition, Existence, Zen-like Wisdom
W.H. Auden Sensory Perception, Mindfulness, Intuition, Existence, Zen-like Wisdom“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“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“The parlour cars and Pullmans are packed also with scented assassins, salad-eaters who murder on milk.” W.H. Auden
Social Criticism, Class, Violence, Appearances, Irony
W.H. Auden Social Criticism, Class, Violence, Appearances, Irony“Only he who has taken up the cross of belief is a human being in the full sense of the word.” W.H. Auden
Belief, Humanity, Religion, Identity, Philosophical Statement
W.H. Auden Belief, Humanity, Religion, Identity, Philosophical Statement“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“Poetry might be defined as the clear expression of mixed feelings.” W.H. Auden
Poetry, Emotions, Clarity, Expression, Definition
W.H. Auden Poetry, Emotions, Clarity, Expression, Definition“The nightingales are sobbing in The orchards of our mothers, And hearts that we broke long ago Have long been breaking others; Tears are round, the sea is deep: Roll them overboard and sleep.” W.H. Auden
Nostalgia, Heartbreak, Consequences, Nature Imagery, Emotional Release
W.H. Auden Nostalgia, Heartbreak, Consequences, Nature Imagery, Emotional Release“The theater has never been any good since the actors became gentlemen.” W.H. Auden
Theater, Acting, Social Class, Artistic Decline, Cultural Criticism
W.H. Auden Theater, Acting, Social Class, Artistic Decline, Cultural Criticism