Man is a history-making creature who can neither repeat his past nor leave it behind.

"I cannot accept the doctrine that in poetry there is a "suspension of belief." A poet must never make a statement simply because it is sounds poetically exciting; he must also believe it to be true."

Geniuses are the luckiest mortals because what they must do is the same as what they most want to do.

"When one has great gifts, what answer to the meaning of existence should one require beyond the right to exercise them?"

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.