Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.

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.

Painting is silent poetry, poetry is eloquent painting.

A marvellous power of expression over language often distinguishes genius.

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.

You will never be alone with a poet in your pocket.

Poetry is the achievement of the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits.