I think there's an appetite for seriousness. Seriousness is voluptuous, and very few people have allowed themselves the luxury of it.

Certainly within any decadent period, you would probably find the purest expressions of conviction, and I do not see that in many of the people I know.

From bitter searching of the heart, quickened with passion and with pain we rise to play a greater part this is the faith from which we start.

Who could have foretold the heart grows old from touching others

Let judges secretly despair of justice: their verdicts will be more acute. Let generals secretly despair of triumph; killing will be defamed. Let priests secretly despair of faith: their compassion will be true.

I think that really what our training, what our culture, our religious institutions, our educational and cultural institutions should be about is preparing the heart for that journey outside of the cage of the ribs.

Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.