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Philip Levine

75quotes

Philip Levine
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Full Name and Common Aliases


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Philip Levine was born on January 10, 1928, in Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Birth and Death Dates


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Birth Date: January 10, 1928
 Death Date: February 14, 2015

Nationality and Profession(s)


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Levine was an American poet, essayist, critic, and educator. He is widely regarded as one of the most important poets of his generation.

Early Life and Background


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Philip Levine grew up in a Jewish family in Detroit's Lower East Side. His father abandoned the family when Philip was five years old, leaving his mother to care for him and his younger sister. Levine's early life experiences profoundly influenced his poetry, which often explored themes of identity, belonging, and social justice.

Levine attended Cass Technical High School, where he discovered a passion for writing and developed a love for literature. After graduating in 1944, he worked various jobs to support himself while attending the University of Detroit on a scholarship. However, his studies were interrupted when he was drafted into the United States Army in 1950.

Levine served in the Korean War, where he witnessed the brutal treatment of civilians and prisoners of war by American soldiers. This experience had a profound impact on him, shaping his views on politics, morality, and human nature.

Major Accomplishments


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First Poetry Collection: Levine's first poetry collection, _On the Plain_, was published in 1964.
 Poetry Awards: He received two National Book Award for Poetry (1974 and 1993), a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry (1995), and numerous other honors throughout his career.
Academic Career: Levine taught at various universities, including the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop, California State University, Fresno, and Stanford University.

Notable Works or Actions


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Levine's poetry collections are known for their powerful exploration of themes such as identity, history, politics, and human rights. Some notable works include:

"Life in Prison" (1965)
"They Who Follow the Sun" (1990)
 "The New Bread" (1993)

His poetry often employed traditional forms while exploring contemporary issues, making him a unique voice among his peers.

Impact and Legacy


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Levine's work has had a significant impact on American literature. His commitment to social justice and human rights inspired generations of writers and readers. He was particularly known for his advocacy of workers' rights, as expressed in poems such as "They Who Follow the Sun."

Throughout his life, Levine received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to literature. These include two National Book Award for Poetry (1974 and 1993), a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry (1995), and the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


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Philip Levine's work continues to be widely read, studied, and quoted today due to its powerful exploration of social justice issues. His commitment to using poetry as a tool for advocacy has inspired countless readers to engage with literature in new ways.

His legacy is also reflected in his impact on the literary world. He was a dedicated teacher and mentor, inspiring generations of writers through his teaching at various universities.

Quotes by Philip Levine

If she were writing by candlelight she would now be in the dark, for a living flame would refuse to be fed by such pure exhaustion. Actually she is in the dark, for the.
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If she were writing by candlelight she would now be in the dark, for a living flame would refuse to be fed by such pure exhaustion. Actually she is in the dark, for the.
PL
I’m seventy-one now, so it’s hard to imagine a dramatic change.
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I’m seventy-one now, so it’s hard to imagine a dramatic change.
PL
The earth drinks all that’s left of you and asks for more.
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The earth drinks all that’s left of you and asks for more.
PL
Back then, I couldn’t have left a poem a year and gone back to it.
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Back then, I couldn’t have left a poem a year and gone back to it.
PL
But most commonly, it’s one poem that I work on with a lot of intensity.
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But most commonly, it’s one poem that I work on with a lot of intensity.
PL
I realized poetry’s the thing that I can do ’cause I can stick at it and work with tremendous intensity.
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I realized poetry’s the thing that I can do ’cause I can stick at it and work with tremendous intensity.
PL
Don’t scorn your life just because it’s not dramatic, or it’s impoverished, or it looks dull, or it’s workaday. Don’t scorn it. It is where poetry is taking place if you’ve got the sensitivity to see it, if your eyes are open.” – Philip Levine, describing what he learned from William Carlos Williams, via NPR.
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Don’t scorn your life just because it’s not dramatic, or it’s impoverished, or it looks dull, or it’s workaday. Don’t scorn it. It is where poetry is taking place if you’ve got the sensitivity to see it, if your eyes are open.” – Philip Levine, describing what he learned from William Carlos Williams, via NPR.
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But I’m too old to be written about as a young poet.
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But I’m too old to be written about as a young poet.
PL
My sense of a poem – my notion of how you revise – is: you get yourself into a state where what you are intensely conscious of is not why you wrote it or how you wrote it, but what you wrote.
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My sense of a poem – my notion of how you revise – is: you get yourself into a state where what you are intensely conscious of is not why you wrote it or how you wrote it, but what you wrote.
PL
To be alone then, hearing only breeze, your own breath rising to answer with words you didn’t know you knew the pale questions of the full moon, to know for the first time you are without a name or number.
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To be alone then, hearing only breeze, your own breath rising to answer with words you didn’t know you knew the pale questions of the full moon, to know for the first time you are without a name or number.
PL
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