A civilized man is one who will give a serious answer to a serious question. Civilization itself is a certain sane balance of values.

Good writers are those who keep the language efficient. That is to say, keep it accurate, keep it clear.

The curse of me and my nation is that we always think things can be bettered by immediate action of some sort, any sort rather than no sort.

Any damn fool can be spontaneous.

Quiet this metal! Let the manes put off their terror, let them put off their aqueous bodies with fire. Let them assume the milk-white bodies of agate. Let them draw together the bones of the metal.

Poetry is a language pared down to its essentials.

And New York is the most beautiful city in the world? It is not far from it. No urban night is like the night there... Squares after squares of flame, set up and cut into the aether. Here is our poetry, for we have pulled down the stars to our will.