Time and fevers burn away Individual beauty from Thoughtful children, and the grave Proves the child ephemeral.
W.H. Auden
Time, Beauty, Mortality, Childhood, Ephemerality
W.H. Auden’s Quotes On Topics
Public Knowledge | Influence | Cultural Commentary | Poetic Exaggeration | Emotions | Self-exploration | Analysis | Societal Impact | Human Connection | Architecture | Animal Metaphor | Marriage | Irony | Loneliness | Privacy | Madness | Intimacy | Paradise | Social Media | Cultural Criticism | More
More W.H. Auden Quotes
“Civilizations should be measured by the degree of diversity attained and the degree of unity retained.” W.H. Auden
Civilization, Diversity, Unity, Social Values, Cultural Assessment
W.H. Auden Civilization, Diversity, Unity, Social Values, Cultural Assessment“There are three cardinal rules – don't take somebody else's boyfriend unless you've been specifically invited to do so, don't take a drink without being asked, and keep a scrupulous accounting in financial matters.” W.H. Auden
Etiquette, Relationships, Alcohol, Finance, Social Rules
W.H. Auden Etiquette, Relationships, Alcohol, Finance, Social Rules“The primary theme of literature is that of loneliness — that every human being is unique and alone.” W.H. Auden
Literature, Loneliness, Individuality, Human Condition, Artistic Themes
W.H. Auden Literature, Loneliness, Individuality, Human Condition, Artistic Themes“To make one, there must be two.” W.H. Auden
Unity, Duality, Creation, Relationships, Philosophical Concept
W.H. Auden Unity, Duality, Creation, Relationships, Philosophical Concept“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“A professor is someone who talks in someone else’s sleep.” W.H. Auden
Academia, Teaching, Metaphor, Perception, Intellectualism
W.H. Auden Academia, Teaching, Metaphor, Perception, Intellectualism“There is only one thing necessary: to possess either courage, or kindness, or common sense, or all three, in order to be happy.” W.H. Auden
Happiness, Courage, Kindness, Common Sense, Simplicity
W.H. Auden Happiness, Courage, Kindness, Common Sense, Simplicity“Few can remember clearly when innocence came to a sudden end, the moment at which we ask for the first time: Am I loved?” W.H. Auden
Innocence, Love, Self-doubt, Childhood, Pivotal Moments
W.H. Auden Innocence, Love, Self-doubt, Childhood, Pivotal Moments“I write because I love to play with language.” W.H. Auden
Writing, Language, Creativity, Passion, Self-expression
W.H. Auden Writing, Language, Creativity, Passion, Self-expression“When one looks into the window of a store which sells devotional art objects, one can't help wishing the iconoclasts had won.” W.H. Auden
Religion, Art Criticism, Iconoclasm, Materialism, Cultural Commentary
W.H. Auden Religion, Art Criticism, Iconoclasm, Materialism, Cultural Commentary“If we really want to live, we’d better start at once to try.” W.H. Auden
Action, Life, Urgency, Motivation, Self-improvement
W.H. Auden Action, Life, Urgency, Motivation, Self-improvement“The identification of fantasy is always an attempt to avoid one’s own suffering: the identification of art is the sharing in the suffering of another.” W.H. Auden
Fantasy, Art, Empathy, Suffering, Human Connection
W.H. Auden Fantasy, Art, Empathy, Suffering, Human Connection“To my generation no other English poet seemed so perfectly to express the sensibility of a male adolescent. If I do not now turn to him very often, I am eternally grateful to him for the joy he gave me in my youth.” W.H. Auden
Poetry, Nostalgia, Male Adolescence, Gratitude, Literary Influence
W.H. Auden Poetry, Nostalgia, Male Adolescence, Gratitude, Literary Influence“The older lives like not to be stood in rows or at right angles.” W.H. Auden
Aging, Conformity, Individuality, Rebellion, Metaphor
W.H. Auden Aging, Conformity, Individuality, Rebellion, Metaphor“To hunt for symbols in a fairy tale is absolutely fatal.” W.H. Auden
Symbolism, Interpretation, Fairy Tales, Caution, Analysis
W.H. Auden Symbolism, Interpretation, Fairy Tales, Caution, Analysis“Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh.” W.H. Auden
Love, Laughter, Admiration, Relationships, Human Connection
W.H. Auden Love, Laughter, Admiration, Relationships, Human Connection“Get up very early and get going at once. In fact, work first and wash afterwards.” W.H. Auden
Productivity, Priorities, Work Ethic, Routine, Advice
W.H. Auden Productivity, Priorities, Work Ethic, Routine, Advice