Literature, the study of literature in English in the 19th century, did not belong to literary studies, which had to do with Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, but instead with elocution and public speaking. So when people read literature, it was to memorize and to recite it.

Environmental regulation looked like it was going to be under serious attack, and they were giving all of those speeches about getting government off people's backs.

The Earth forgives the previous year every year.

The first book that really knocked me out was the 'Brothers Karamazov.' I read it when I was a senior in high school.

Do poets have any insight into what's the right ratio? I doubt it, but I think that they can be awake to what the ends are.

Justice is the well water of the city of Novgorod, black and sweet.

I think that what art can do is refresh our sense of justice, wake us up to what we've taken for granted in the political realm, as in the other realms.