Poetry Quotes and Messages

Capture the beauty and power of poetry with these inspiring quotes. Copy and download your favorites to keep you close to the art of language and to remind yourself of the power of words.

Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.

Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.

Nothing will work unless you do.

Nothing will work unless you do.

If poetry comes not as naturally as the leaves to a tree it had better not come at all.

If poetry comes not as naturally as the leaves to a tree it had better not come at all.

Love recognises no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.

Love recognises no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.

Poetry is the revolution and the raising of consciousness.

Poetry is the revolution and the raising of consciousness.

If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.

If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.

Poetry is something best words in the best order.

Poetry is something best words in the best order.

You alone are enough, you have nothing to prove to anybody.

You alone are enough, you have nothing to prove to anybody.

Not deep the poet sees, but wide.

Not deep the poet sees, but wide.

Poetry cannot breathe in the scholar’s atmosphere.

Poetry cannot breathe in the scholar’s atmosphere.

To find beauty in ugliness is the province of the poet.

To find beauty in ugliness is the province of the poet.

Poetry is a deal of joy and pain and wonder, with a dash of the dictionary.

Poetry is a deal of joy and pain and wonder, with a dash of the dictionary.

The only true writing that came through during the war was in poetry.

The only true writing that came through during the war was in poetry.

All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling.

All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling.

Poetry is the deification of reality.

Poetry is the deification of reality.

A poet’s autobiography is his poetry. Anything else is just a footnote.

A poet’s autobiography is his poetry. Anything else is just a footnote.

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and thought has found words.

Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and thought has found words.

Poetry comes from the highest happiness or the deepest sorrow.

Poetry comes from the highest happiness or the deepest sorrow.

Poetry, I feel, is a tyrannical discipline.

Poetry, I feel, is a tyrannical discipline.

Poetry might be defined as the clear expression of mixed feelings.

Poetry might be defined as the clear expression of mixed feelings.

For next to being a great poet is the power of understanding one.

For next to being a great poet is the power of understanding one.

The most important things are the hardest to say because words diminish them.

The most important things are the hardest to say because words diminish them.

It was at that age, that poetry came in search of me.

It was at that age, that poetry came in search of me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal.

Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal.

French is the language that turns dirt into romance.

French is the language that turns dirt into romance.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.

Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.

A marvellous power of expression over language often distinguishes genius.

A marvellous power of expression over language often distinguishes genius.

Painting is silent poetry, poetry is eloquent painting.

Painting is silent poetry, poetry is eloquent painting.

The world is full of poetry.

The world is full of poetry.

The crown of literature is poetry.

The crown of literature is poetry.

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

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

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

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

Poetry is ordinary language raised to the Nth power.

Poetry is ordinary language raised to the Nth power.

Poetry is talking on tiptoe.

Poetry is talking on tiptoe.

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

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

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

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

Poetry is a way of taking life by the throat.

Poetry is a way of taking life by the throat.

Dis poetry is like a riddim dat drops De tongue fires a riddim dat shoots like shots...

Dis poetry is like a riddim dat drops De tongue fires a riddim dat shoots like shots...

Reality only reveals itself when it is illuminated by a ray of poetry.

Reality only reveals itself when it is illuminated by a ray of poetry.

Poetry is thoughts that breathe, and words that burn.

Poetry is thoughts that breathe, and words that burn.

it takes a lot of desperation dissatisfaction and disillusion to write a few good poems.

it takes a lot of desperation dissatisfaction and disillusion to write a few good poems.

I do not go in search of poetry. I wait for poetry to visit me.

I do not go in search of poetry. I wait for poetry to visit me.

Oh, speak no ill of poetry,  For 'tis a holy thing.

Oh, speak no ill of poetry, For 'tis a holy thing.

Poetry is the liquid voice that can wear through stone.

Poetry is the liquid voice that can wear through stone.

Tonight I can write the saddest lines I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.

Tonight I can write the saddest lines I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.

To be a poet is a condition, not a profession.

To be a poet is a condition, not a profession.