Never allow gradually the traffic to smother with noise and fog the flowering of the spirit.

So i learned both to accept myself and to aim beyond myself

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.

History is the ship carrying living memories to the future.

I'm struggling at the end to get out of the valley of hectoring youth, journalistic middle age, imposture, moneymaking, public relations, bad writing, mental confusion.

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 . . .

The greatest poets are those with memories so great that they extend beyond their strongest experiences to their minutest observations of people and things far outside their own self-centeredness.