277 Quotes by Anne Carson

The self forms at the edge of desire, and a science of self arises in the effort to leave that self behind.

Aristotle says that metaphor causes the mind to experience itself in the act of making a mistake.

I do think that something of the effect I have on people is to put everything on an edge where they're both infatuated with a kind of charmingness happening in the person or in the writing, and also flatly terrified by a revelation or acceptance of revelation that's almost happening, never quite totally happening.

When I began to be published, people got the idea that I should 'teach writing,' which I have no idea how to do and don't really believe in.

Consider incompleteness as a verb.

I never had much education in English poetry as such,

No one will ever make necessity not happen.

Those nights lying alone are not discontinuous with this cold hectic dawn. It is who I am.

All myth is an enriched pattern, a two-faced proposition, allowing its operator to say one thing and mean another, to lead a double life. Hence the notion found early in ancient thought that all poets are liars. And from the true lies of poetry trickled out a question. What really connects words and things?