1,059 Quotes by William Butler Yeats

The fascination of what's difficultHas dried the sap out of my veins, and rentSpontaneous joy and natural contentOut of my heart.

On limestone quarried near the spot By his command these words are cut: Cast a cold eye On life, on death. Horseman, pass by!

Because this age and the next age Engender in the ditch, No man can know a happy man From any passing wretch, If Folly link with Elegance No man knows which is which....

And wisdom is a butterfly And not a gloomy bird of prey....

Things fall apart; the center cannot hold...

The world being illusive, one must be deluded in some way if one is to triumph in it.

Now that my ladder's goneI must lie down where all ladders startIn the foul rag and bone shop of the heart.

I have passed with a nod of the headOr polite meaningless words,Or have lingered awhile and saidPolite meaningless words. . . .

Cast a cold eye on life, on death Horseman pass by