Poetry should help, not only to refine the language of the time, but to prevent it from changing too rapidly.

Probably, indeed, the larger part of the labor of an author composing his work is critical labor; the labor of sifting, combining, constructing, expunging, correcting, testing. This frightful toil is as much critical as creative.

This is the feeling for syllable and rhythm, penetrating far below the conscious levels of thought and feeling, invigorating every word.

The historical sense involves a perception, not only of the pastness of the past, but of its presence

Anxiety is the hand maiden of creativity.

I grow old … I grow old … I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.

Whatever you do, don't whimper, but take the consequences.