I could no more define poetry than a terrier can define a rat.

The fairies break their dances And leave the printed lawn.

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

The laws of God, the laws of man, He may keep that will and can; Not I: let God and man decree Laws for themselves and not for me.

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.

Some men are more interesting than their books but my book is more interesting than its man.

The average man, if he meddles with criticism at all, is a conservative critic.