• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

1. black
2. grey
3. blue
4. red
5. brown
6. white

The award of a pure gold medal for poetry would flatter the recipient unduly: no poem ever attains such carat purity.

Robert Graves

Related Topics

Popular Authors

Marilyn Monroe Paulo Coelho Abraham Lincoln C. S. Lewis Khalil Gibran Charlie Chaplin Gautama Buddha Isaac Newton

Prevoius| Next

More Robert Graves Quotes

• 

  This seems to me a philosophical question, and therefore irrelevant, question. A poet’s destiny is to love.

  ROBERT GRAVES
  BeautifulDestinyImpressImpressiveNoblePhilosophicalPoetPoetryResultSayingSimplicityWidely
• 

  If I were a girl, I’d despair. The supply of good women far exceeds that of the men who deserve them.

  ROBERT GRAVES
  AcceptBecomingGirlGoodHonorLifeMindPerfectPerfectionRespectWomanWomen
• 

  The poet’s first rule must be never to bore his readers; and his best way of keeping this rule is never to bore himself-which, of course, means to write only when he has something urgent to say.

  ROBERT GRAVES
  Famous WriterHobbyInterestMissionPersonalRareRevealSecretWritingZeal
• 

  Love at first sight’some say misnaming Discovery of twinned helplessness Against the huge tug of procreation. But friendship at first sight? This also Catches fiercely at the surprised heart So that the cheek blanches then blushes.

  ROBERT GRAVES
  CrowdDesireDiscoveryFireGoalHeartHideLifeRiseSightStreetWantWon
• 

  There’s a cool web of language winds us in, Retreat from too much joy or too much fear: We grow sea-green at last and coldly die In brininess and volubility.

  ROBERT GRAVES
  ChangeFlashbackHappyJoyLifeMomentMovementSeaSummerWeatherWind
• 

  When I’m killed, don’t think of me Buried there in Cambrin Wood, Nor as in Zion think of me With the Intolerable Good. And there’s one thing that I know well, I’m damned if I’ll be damned to Hell!

  ROBERT GRAVES
  GoodnessHellKillMyselfThinkingTolerance
• 

  I believe that every English poet should read the English classics, master the rules of grammar before he attempts to bend or break them, travel abroad, experience the horrors of sordid passion, and – if he is lucky enough – know the love of an honest woman.

  ROBERT GRAVES
  BeautifulBelieveImpressImpressivePassionPoetPoetryResultSayingSimplicityTry
• 

  Poet, never chase the dream. Laugh yourself and turn away. Mask your hunger, let it seem Small matter if he come or stay; But when he nestles in your hand at last, Close up your fingers tight and hold him fast.

  ROBERT GRAVES
• 

  As was the custom in such cases, the pear tree was charged with murder and sentenced to be uprooted and burned.

  ROBERT GRAVES
  BurnCaseCustomMurder
• 

  He found a formula for drawing comic rabbits: This formula for drawing comic rabbits paid. Till in the end he could not change the tragic habits This formula for drawing comic rabbits made.

  ROBERT GRAVES
  AnimalArtCreativityDrawingEndFormulaMemoryRabbit
• 

  Fact is not truth, but a poet who wilfully defies fact cannot achieve truth.

  ROBERT GRAVES
  AchieveBeautifulEffectImpressImpressiveNoblePoetPoetryResultSayingSimplicityWidely
• 

  If I thought that any poem of mine could have been written by anyone else, either a contemporary or a forerunner, I should suppress it with a blush; and I should do the same if I ever found I were imitating myself. Every poem should be new, unexpected, inimitable, and incapable of being parodied.

  ROBERT GRAVES
  BlowChampionHobbyIdeaReadingRewardTalkUnexpectedWindWonWriting
• 

  Though philosophers like to define poetry as irrational fancy, for us it is practical, humorous, reasonable way of being ourselves.

  ROBERT GRAVES
  BeautifulEffectFancyHumorousImpressImpressiveNoblePoetPoetryResultSayingSimplicityWidely
• 

  Well, we’ve been lucky devils both And there is no need for a pledge or oath To bind our lovely friendship fast, By firmer stuff Close bound enough.

  ROBERT GRAVES
  CastDevilEmotionFeelingFriendshipKingLaunchLovelyPeculiarSatisfactionSoulStrengthStyleTouchwood
• 

  Kill if you must, but never hate: Man is but grass and hate is blight, The sun will scorch you soon or late, Die wholesome then, since you must fight

  ROBERT GRAVES
  CultureDreamFightHateLightMachineMenPassionRootVision
• 

  Faults in English prose derive not so much from lack of knowledge, intelligence or art as from lack of thought, patience or goodwill.

  ROBERT GRAVES
  GoodwillIntelligenceKnowledgeMistakePatience