The world is come upon me, I used to keep it a long way off, But now I have been run over and I am in the hands of the hospital staff.

I don't think Auden liked my poetry very much, he's very Anglican.

My friendships, they are a very strong part of my life, they are as light as gossamer but also they are as strong as steel. And I cannot throw them off, nor altogether do with them or without them. And I love them at the point where they say: It is nice to see you again. And I love them too at the point when they say: Good-bye, come again soon. The rhythm of friendship is a very good rhythm.

All poetry has to do is to make a strong communication. All the poet has to do is listen. The poet is not an important fellow. There will also be another poet.

You must have some money if you are going to live simply. It need not be much, but you must have some.

Unpopular, lonely and loving, Elinor need not trouble, For if she were not so loving, She would not be so miserable.

A great artist ... takes what he did not make and makes of it something that only he can make.