1,059 Quotes by William Butler Yeats

Beloved, let your eyes half close, and your heart beat Over my heart, and your hair fall over my breast, Drowning love’s lonely hour in deep twilight of rest...

I have read somewhere that in the Emperor’s palace at Byzantium was a tree made of gold and silver, and artificial birds that sang.

It’s certain there is no fine thing Since Adam’s fall but needs much laboring.

Bodies of holy men and women exude Miraculous oil, odour of violet. But under heavy loads of trampled clay Lie bodies of the vampires full of blood; Their shrouds are bloody and their lips are wet.

A lonely impulse of delight.

No man has ever lived that had enough of children’s gratitude or woman’s love.

Poetry and music I have banished, But the stupidity Of root, shoot, blossom or clay Makes no demand. I bend my body to the spade Or grope with a dirty hand.

Laughter not time destroyed my voice And put that crack in it, And when the moon’s pot-bellied I get a laughing fit...

Between extremities Man runs his course; A brand, or flaming breath, Comes to destroy All those antinomies Of day and night...