There never was any heart truly great and generous, that was not also tender and compassionate.

I could define poetry this way: it is that which is lost out of both prose and verse in translation.

The greatest thing in family life is to take a hint when a hint is intended-and not to take a hint when a hint isn't intended.

Thinking isn't agreeing or disagreeing. That's voting.

The ear is the only true writer and the only true reader. I know people who read without hearing the sentence sounds and they were the fastest readers. Eye readers we call them. They get the meaning by glances. But they are bad readers because they miss the best part of what a good writer puts into his work.

Poetry is a reaching out forward expression, an effort to find fulfillment

The question that he frames in all but words is what to make of a diminished thing.