The genius of poetry must work out its own salvation in a man; it cannot be matured by law and precept, but by sensation and watchfulness in itself. That which is creative must create itself - In Endymion, I leaped headlong into the sea, and thereby have become better acquainted with the soundings, the quicksands, and the rocks, than if I had stayed upon the green shore, and piped a silly pipe, and took tea and comfortable sdvice.

That which is creative must create itself.

What shocks the virtuous philosopher, delights the chameleon poet.

If something is not beautiful, it is probably not true.

It ought to come like the leaves to the trees, or it better not come at all.

Do you not see how necessary a world of pains and troubles is to school an intelligence and make it a soul?

We have woven a web, you and I, attached to this world but a separate world of our own invention.