Give crowns and pounds and guineas But not your heart away; Give pearls away and rubies, But keep your fancy free.

Do not ever read books about versification: no poet ever learnt it that way. If you are going to be a poet, it will come to you naturally and you will pick up all you need from reading poetry.

Three minutes thought would suffice to find this out; but thought is irksome and three minutes is a long time.

Tell me not here, it needs not saying, What tune the enchantress plays In aftermaths of soft September Or under blanching mays, For she and I were long acquainted And I knew all her ways.

All knowledge is precious whether or not it serves the slightest human use.

Could man be drunk for ever With liquor, love, or fights, Lief should I rouse at morning And lief lie down of nights. But men at whiles are sober And think by fits and starts, And if they think, they fasten Their hands upon their hearts.

Luck's a chance, but trouble's sure.