A poet cannot be a Party member ... without paying the price.

European democracy was originally imbued with a sense of Christian responsibility and self-discipline, but these spiritual principles have been gradually losing their force. Spiritual independence is being pressured on all sides by the dictatorship of self-satisfied vulgarity, of the latest fads, and of group interests.

People can live through hardship, but from hard feelings they perish.

Own only what you can always carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag.

Work is what horses die of

A forest doesn't weep over one tree.

Talent is always conscious of its own abundance, and does not object to sharing.