“We are surrounded by poetry on all sides.”

It is with the reading of books the same as with looking at pictures; one must, without doubt, without hesitations, with assurance, admire what is beautiful.

So often, a visit to a bookshop has cheered me, and reminded me that there are good things in the world.

Close friends are truly life’s treasures. Sometimes they know us better than we know ourselves. With gentle honesty, they are there to guide and support us, to share our laughter and our tears. Their presence reminds us that we are never really alone.

Sometimes art seems to be something very sublime, and, as you say, something sacred.

I hope I shall be able to make some drawings in which there is something human.

I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.

Both she and I have grief enough and trouble enough, but as for regrets – neither of us have any.

Great things are not something accidental, but must certainly be willed.

Admire as much as you can. Most people do not admire enough.

What a simple thing death is, just as simple as the falling of an autumn leaf.

What a simple thing death is, just as simple as the falling of an autumn leaf.

Often whole days pass without my speaking to anyone.

Often whole days pass without my speaking to anyone.

Let’s not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it.

At times it is not easy for me to take up living again.

A great fire burns within me, but no one stops to warm themselves at it, and passers-by only see a wisp of smoke.

Your lines, I maintain it, are poetry, and good poetry. Friendship had I been so blest as to have met with you in time, might have led me – God of love only knows where.

Poetry is a religion without hope. The poet exhausts himself in its service, knowing that, in the long run, a masterpiece is nothing but the performance of a trained dog on very shaky ground.

I have not the slightest pretension to call my verses poetry; I write now and then for no other purpose than to relieve depression or to improve my English.

I know that poetry is indispensable, but to what I could not say.

Poetry is indispensable – if I only knew what for.

Politics in any country in the world is dangerous. For the poet, politics in any country had better be disguised as poetry. Politics can be the graveyard of the poet. And only poetry can be his resurrection.

Politics can be the graveyard of the poet. And only poetry can be his resurrection.

What can be explained is not poetry.