W. H. Auden Quotes

But if a stranger in the train asks me my occupation, I never answer "writer" for fear that he may go on to ask me what I write, and to answer "poetry" would embarrass us both, for we both know that nobody can earn a living simply by writing poetry.

W. H. Auden

Quotes to Explore

The will is commendable though the ability may be wanting.

Ovid
- May
- Ability
- Will
When I look at the world I'm pessimistic, but when I look at people I am optimistic.

Carl Rogers
- People
- World
- Optimistic
In the case of my book, I don't think it's really the coming-out gay novel that everyone really needed, even though it was received as such. The boy is too creepy, he betrays his teacher, the only adult man with whom he's enjoyed a sexual experience, etc.

Edmund White
- Experience
- Book
- Man
Creating things sometimes is difficult.

Warren Littlefield
When I was writing pretty poor poetry, this girl with midnight black hair told me to go on.

Carl Sandburg
- Writing
- Pretty
- Black
As it relates to society in general, I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.'

Dan T. Cathy
- God
- Society
- Marriage