Lust is less a physical need than a way of forgetting time and death.
W.H. Auden
Lust, Mortality, Time, Distraction, Human Nature
W.H. Auden’s Quotes On Topics
Grief | Decision-making | Problem-solving | Contemporary Issues | Abandon | Artistic Decline | Artistic Limitations | Universality | Pivotal Moments | Utility | Life’s Fragility | Novel Writing | Writing | Public Interest | Precariousness | Artistic Insight | Banality | Iceland | Contemplation | Hidden Truths | More
More W.H. Auden Quotes
“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“A poor American feels guilty at being poor, but less guilty than an American rentier who has inherited wealth but is doing nothingto increase it; what can the latter do but take to drink and psychoanalysis?” W.H. Auden
Wealth, Guilt, American Culture, Idleness, Social Commentary
W.H. Auden Wealth, Guilt, American Culture, Idleness, Social Commentary“Most people enjoy the sight of their own handwriting as they enjoy the smell of their own farts.” W.H. Auden
Self-appreciation, Vanity, Human Nature, Humor, Personal Bias
W.H. Auden Self-appreciation, Vanity, Human Nature, Humor, Personal Bias“A daydream is a meal at which images are eaten. Some of us are gourmets, some gourmands, and a good many take their images precooked out of a can and swallow them down whole, absent-mindedly and with little relish.” W.H. Auden
Daydreams, Imagination, Consumption, Individuality, Mental Processes
W.H. Auden Daydreams, Imagination, Consumption, Individuality, Mental Processes“Without art, we should have no notion of the sacred; without science, we should always worship false gods.” W.H. Auden
Art, Science, Spirituality, Culture, Duality
W.H. Auden Art, Science, Spirituality, Culture, Duality“I am not in favor of Facebook friends who make Facebook enemies for me.” W.H. Auden
Social Media, Friendship, Conflict, Boundaries, Modern Relationships
W.H. Auden Social Media, Friendship, Conflict, Boundaries, Modern Relationships“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 Reading, Literature, Self-discovery, Interaction, Literary Critique“Learn from your dreams what you lack.” W.H. Auden
Dreams, Self-improvement, Introspection, Subconscious, Personal Growth
W.H. Auden Dreams, Self-improvement, Introspection, Subconscious, Personal Growth“For time is inches And the heart's changes, Where ghost has haunted Lost and wanted.” W.H. Auden
Time, Change, Loss, Desire, Poetic Imagery
W.H. Auden Time, Change, Loss, Desire, Poetic Imagery“But if a stranger in the train asks me my occupation, I never answer “writer” for fear that he may go on to ask me what I write, and to answer “poetry” would embarrass us both, for we both know that nobody can earn a living simply by writing poetry.” W.H. Auden
Writing, Identity, Poetry, Embarrassment, Livelihood
W.H. Auden Writing, Identity, Poetry, Embarrassment, Livelihood“A poet's hope: to be, like some valley cheese, local, but prized elsewhere.” W.H. Auden
Poetry, Aspiration, Local, Universal Appeal, Metaphor
W.H. Auden Poetry, Aspiration, Local, Universal Appeal, Metaphor“Art is our chief means of breaking bread with the dead.” W.H. Auden
Art, Connection, History, Mortality, Cultural Continuity
W.H. Auden Art, Connection, History, Mortality, Cultural Continuity“Human language is mythological and metaphorical by nature.” W.H. Auden
Language, Mythology, Metaphor, Human Nature, Communication
W.H. Auden Language, Mythology, Metaphor, Human Nature, Communication“Nobody is ever sent to Hell: he or she insists on going there.” W.H. Auden
Hell, Free Will, Choice, Responsibility, Theological Insight
W.H. Auden Hell, Free Will, Choice, Responsibility, Theological Insight“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 way of love is not a subtle argument. The door is open; why are you still standing outside?” W.H. Auden
Love, Opportunity, Hesitation, Directness, Spiritual Invitation
W.H. Auden Love, Opportunity, Hesitation, Directness, Spiritual Invitation“Acts of injustice done Between the setting and the rising sun In history lie like bones, each one.” W.H. Auden
Injustice, History, Metaphor, Societal Impact, Human Consequence
W.H. Auden Injustice, History, Metaphor, Societal Impact, Human Consequence