Poetry is a sequence of dots and dashes, spelling depths, crypts, cross-lights, and moon wisps.

There are some people who can receive a truth by no other way than to have their understanding shocked and insulted.

I have often wondered what it is an old building can do to you when you happen to know a little about things that went on long ago in that building.

I asked the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell me what is happiness. And I went to famous executives who boss the work of thousands of men. They all shook their heads and gave me a smile as though I was trying to fool with them. And then one Sunday afternoon I wandered out along the Desplaines river and I saw a crowd of Hungarians under the trees with their women and children and a keg of beer and an accordion.

To work hard, to live hard, to die hard, and then go to hell after all would be too damned hard.

To be a good loser is to learn how to win.

I took to wearing a black tie known as the Ascot, with long drooping ends. I had seen pictures of painters, sculptors, poets, wearing this style of tie.