Painting is silent poetry, poetry is eloquent painting.

Poetry is a way of taking life by the throat.

My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity.

If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.

Poetry is talking on tiptoe.

Poetry is ordinary language raised to the Nth power.

Don't write love poems when you're in love. Write them when you're not in love.

The prose is a museum where all the old weapons of poetry are kept.

The crown of literature is poetry.

The world is full of poetry.

A marvellous power of expression over language often distinguishes genius.

Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.

Poetry is plucking at the heartstrings, and making music with them.

History does not merely touch on language, but takes place in it.

Poetry is play. I’d even rather have you think of it as a sport. For instance, like football.

Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.

French is the language that turns dirt into romance.

Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal.

Don’t write love poems when you’re in love. Write them when you’re not in love.