W.H. Auden’s Quotes On Topics
Masculinity | Artistic Independence | Directness | Precariousness | Movement | Sacrifice | Beauty | Cultural Legacy | Normality | Problem-solving | Social Restraints | Mundanity | Poetic Imagery | Existence | Sleep | Nobility | All-encompassing | Writing Advice | Sensibility | Premonition | More
More W.H. Auden Quotes
“A craftsman knows in advance what the finished result will be, while the artist knows only what it will be when he has finished it.”
W.H. Auden
Craftsmanship, Art, Process, Creativity, Expectation
W.H. Auden Craftsmanship, Art, Process, Creativity, Expectation“Behind you swiftly the figure comes softly, The spot on your skin is a shocking disease.” W.H. Auden
Fear, Disease, Mortality, Poetic Imagery, Human Vulnerability
W.H. Auden Fear, Disease, Mortality, Poetic Imagery, Human Vulnerability“Even the dreadful martyrdom must run its course Anyhow in a corner, some untidy spot Where the dogs go on with their doggy life.” W.H. Auden
Martyrdom, Mundanity, Suffering, Contrast, Everyday Life
W.H. Auden Martyrdom, Mundanity, Suffering, Contrast, Everyday Life“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“Blessed be all metrical rules that forbid automatic responses, force us to have second thoughts, free us from the fetters of Self.” W.H. Auden
Poetry, Rules, Creativity, Self-reflection, Artistic Constraints
W.H. Auden Poetry, Rules, Creativity, Self-reflection, Artistic Constraints“Composing mortals with immortal fire.” W.H. Auden
Creativity, Mortality, Art, Inspiration, Poetic Imagery
W.H. Auden Creativity, Mortality, Art, Inspiration, Poetic Imagery“Goodness is easier to recognize than to define.” W.H. Auden
Goodness, Recognition, Definition, Morality, Human Perception
W.H. Auden Goodness, Recognition, Definition, Morality, Human Perception“I think the first prerequisite to civilization is an ability to make polite conversation.” W.H. Auden
Civilization, Conversation, Politeness, Social Skills, Cultural Norms
W.H. Auden Civilization, Conversation, Politeness, Social Skills, Cultural Norms“No good opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible.” W.H. Auden
Opera, Sensibility, Art, Emotion, Musical Theater
W.H. Auden Opera, Sensibility, Art, Emotion, Musical Theater“There is no such thing as the State And no one exists alone; Hunger allows no choice To the citizen or the police; We must love one another or die.” W.H. Auden
State, Individuality, Hunger, Love, Human Interdependence
W.H. Auden State, Individuality, Hunger, Love, Human Interdependence“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“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“Private faces in public places Are wiser and nicer Than public faces in private places.” W.H. Auden
Privacy, Public Behavior, Wisdom, Kindness, Social Commentary
W.H. Auden Privacy, Public Behavior, Wisdom, Kindness, Social Commentary“Every American poet feels that the whole responsibility for contemporary poetry has fallen upon his shoulders, that he is a literary aristocracy of one.” W.H. Auden
Poetry, Responsibility, American Culture, Individuality, Literary Pressure
W.H. Auden Poetry, Responsibility, American Culture, Individuality, Literary Pressure“Those who will not reason, perish in the act. Those who will not act, perish for that reason.” W.H. Auden
Reason, Action, Consequences, Decision-making, Philosophy
W.H. Auden Reason, Action, Consequences, Decision-making, Philosophy“All the rest is silence On the other side of the wall, And the silence ripeness, And the ripeness all.” W.H. Auden
Silence, Completeness, Metaphor, Finality, Poetic Imagery
W.H. Auden Silence, Completeness, Metaphor, Finality, Poetic Imagery“Poetry is the only art people haven't learned to consume like soup.” W.H. Auden
Poetry, Art Consumption, Uniqueness, Cultural Criticism, Literary Appreciation
W.H. Auden Poetry, Art Consumption, Uniqueness, Cultural Criticism, Literary Appreciation