The glacier knocks in the cupboard, The desert sighs in the bed, And the crack in the teacup opens A lane to the land of the dead.
W.H. Auden
Mortality, Domestic Imagery, Surrealism, Death, Everyday Objects
W.H. Auden’s Quotes On Topics
Emotions | Mysticism | Persistence | Life Experiences | Character | Skill | Imagery | Artistic Independence | Unpopularity | Anxiety | Foreign Policy | Universal Condition | Literary Appreciation | Commentary | Responsibilities | Parable | Dreams | Ambition | Poetic Expression | Mystery | More
More W.H. Auden Quotes
“If there are any souls in hell, it is because that is where they insist on being.” W.H. Auden
Hell, Free Will, Damnation, Choice, Theological Insight
W.H. Auden Hell, Free Will, Damnation, Choice, Theological Insight“Desire, even in its wildest tantrums, can neither persuade me it is love nor stop me from wishing it were.” W.H. Auden
Desire, Love, Self-awareness, Emotional Complexity, Wishful Thinking
W.H. Auden Desire, Love, Self-awareness, Emotional Complexity, Wishful Thinking“All I have is a voice.” W.H. Auden
Identity, Self-expression, Simplicity, Artistic Essence, Communication
W.H. Auden Identity, Self-expression, Simplicity, Artistic Essence, Communication“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“Into this neutral air Where blind skyscrapers use Their full height to proclaim The strength of Collective Man, Each language pours its vain Competitive excuse.” W.H. Auden
Urban Life, Society, Competition, Language, Metaphor
W.H. Auden Urban Life, Society, Competition, Language, Metaphor“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“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“That the speech of self-disclosure should be translatable seems to me very odd, but I am convinced that it is. The conclusion that I draw is that the only quality which all human being without exception possess is uniqueness: any characteristic, on the other hand, which one individual can be recognized as having in common with another, like red hair or the English language, implies the existence of other individual qualities which this classification excludes.” W.H. Auden
Uniqueness, Translation, Self-disclosure, Human Nature, Individuality
W.H. Auden Uniqueness, Translation, Self-disclosure, Human Nature, Individuality“Out on the lawn I lie in bed, Vega conspicuous overhead.” W.H. Auden
Stargazing, Perspective, Nature, Human Smallness, Poetic Imagery
W.H. Auden Stargazing, Perspective, Nature, Human Smallness, Poetic Imagery“The critical opinions of a writer should always be taken with a large grain of salt. For the most part, they are manifestations of his debate with himself as to what he should do next and what he should avoid.” W.H. Auden
Criticism, Writing, Self-reflection, Creative Process, Skepticism
W.H. Auden Criticism, Writing, Self-reflection, Creative Process, Skepticism“It is a sad fact about our culture that a poet can earn much more money writing or talking about his art than he can by practicing it.” W.H. Auden
Poetry, Culture, Money, Art Criticism, Societal Values
W.H. Auden Poetry, Culture, Money, Art Criticism, Societal Values“The true men of action in our time, those who transform the world, are not the politicians and statesmen, but the scientists.” W.H. Auden
Science, Progress, Politics, Action, Societal Change
W.H. Auden Science, Progress, Politics, Action, Societal Change“In addition to English, at least one ancient language, probably Greek or Hebrew, and two modern languages would be required.” W.H. Auden
Education, Languages, Requirements, Classical Learning, Modern Skills
W.H. Auden Education, Languages, Requirements, Classical Learning, Modern Skills“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“If it form the one landscape that we the inconstant ones Are consistently homesick for, this is chiefly Because it dissolves in water.” W.H. Auden
Nostalgia, Impermanence, Landscape, Water, Human Nature
W.H. Auden Nostalgia, Impermanence, Landscape, Water, Human Nature“If equal affection cannot be, let the more loving be me.” W.H. Auden
Love, Inequality, Selflessness, Relationships, Emotional Generosity
W.H. Auden Love, Inequality, Selflessness, Relationships, Emotional Generosity“Murder is unique in that it abolishes the party it injures, so that society has to take the place of the victim and on his behalf demand atonement or grant forgiveness; it is the one crime in which society has a direct interest.” W.H. Auden
Murder, Society, Justice, Forgiveness, Social Responsibility
W.H. Auden Murder, Society, Justice, Forgiveness, Social Responsibility