Though we do not have many poets, we certainly have more than we deserve, for we deserve none at all. It is ourselves that we are hurting by our stupidity and ignorance of poetry.

Great writers leave us not just their works, but a way of looking at things.

Individual advances turn into social change when enough of them occur.

Can one consider controversy without falling into it?

I admire people who are suited to the contemplative life. They can sit inside themselves like honey in a jar and just be. It's wonderful to have someone like that around, you always feel you can count on them. You can go away and come back, you can change your mind and your hairdo and your politics, and when you get through doing all these upsetting things, you look around and there they are, just the way they were, just being.

We put up with a lot to be saved from chaos. We always have.

a problem that presents itself as a dilemma carries an unfortunate prescription: to argue instead of act.