451 Quotes by W.H. Auden

The chances are that, in the course of his lifetime, the major poet will write more bad poems than the minor, simply because major poets write a lot.

In times of joy, all of us wished we possessed a tail we could wag.

Composing mortals with immortal fire.

Fate succumbs many a species: one alone jeopardises itself.

If we really want to live, we’d better start at once to try.

O let not Time deceive you, You cannot conquer Time.

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.

The eye likes novelty, but the ear craves familiarity.

I used to try and concentrate the poem so much that there wasn’t a word that wasn’t essential. This leads to becoming boring and constipated.