We turn outward, attracted by the beauty we see in created things without realizing that they are only a reflection of the real beauty. And the real beauty is within us.

Like a lover who spends all his time thinking of his distant love, God has been thinking of me since before I was born, for all eternity.

I am not interested in an economic liberation of man without the liberation of the whole man.

I think that the proclamation of the Gospel is sometimes nearer to an atheistic point of view than to traditional religious attitudes.

Some liberation theologians maintain that they are not influenced by Marxist philosophy at all. In this case it is necessary to discern whether they say this for tactical reasons, so as not to be compromised politically or whether they are really convinced that Marxism doesn't influence them in any way. I personally think that it is not possible to evade the influence of Marxism, as we cannot commit ourselves to the revolutionary struggle without drawing support from the conclusions of scientific socialism.

I began to write poetry when I was about four years old. In other words, I've always been writing poetry.

I myself have never called what I write anti-poetry. I also think that my poetry should not be only known as the poetry of Ernesto Cardenal but rather as Nicaraguan poetry.