Paul Valery speaks of the 'une ligne donnee' of a poem. One line is given to the poet by God or by nature, the rest he has to discover for himself.

Although Poets are vain and ambitious, their vanity and ambition are of the purest kind attainable in this world. They are ambitious to be accepted for what they altimately are as revealed in their poetry.

I think of those who were truly great. The names of those who in their lives fought for life, Who wore at their hearts the fire's center.

There is a certain justice in criticism. The critic is like a midwife - a tyrannical midwife.

Poetry cannot take sides except with life.

An English poet writes, I think, just for people who are interested in poetry. An American poet writes, and feels that everyone ought to appreciate this. Then he has a deep sense of grievance . . .

Religion stands, the Church blocking the sun.