Because every book of art, be it a poem or a cupola, is understandably a self-portrait of its author, we won't strain ourselves too hard trying to distinguish between the author's persona and the poem's lyrical hero. As a rule, such distinctions are quite meaningless, if only because a lyrical hero is invariably an author's self-projection.

Perhaps art is simply an organism's reaction against its retentive limitations.

Were we to choose our leaders on the basis of their reading experience and not their political programs, there would be much less grief on earth. I believe ... that for someone who has read a lot of Dickens to shoot his like in the name of an idea is harder than for someone who has read no Dickens.

The moment that you place blame somewhere, you undermine your resolve to change anything.

Man is what he reads.

No matter under what circumstances you leave it, home does not cease to be home. No matter how you lived there - well or poorly.

Poetry is what is gained in translation.