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Robert Graves

Robert Graves Quotes

Poet

Robert Graves was a British poet, novelist, and translator, born on July 24, 1895, and died on December 7, 1985. His poetry is diverse and spans various literary movements from classicism to modernism. Known for his profound insights into history and mythology, Graves's novels are also highly regarded.

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All Poet Ifs Men Poetry Should Hands Knows Writing 1935 People Poetic War Forget Made Seems Age Answers Children Claudius Ends

Famous Robert Graves Quotes

“I revise the manuscript till I can't read it any longer, then I get somebody to type it. Then I revise the typing. Then it's retyped again. Then there's a third typing, which is the final one. Nothing should then remain that offends the eye.”

Should I Can Eye Type Thirds Finals Manuscripts Typing

Book:Conversations with Robert Graves

Source: Conversations with Robert Graves

“But give thanks, at least, that you still have Frost's poems; and when you feel the need of solitude, retreat to the companionship of moon, water, hills and trees. Retreat, he reminds us, should not be confused with escape. And take these poems along for good luck!”

Needs Giving Feels Should Stills Water Tree Solitude Moon Luck Thanks Hills Confused Companionship Retreat Good Luck Frost

Author:Robert Graves

“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.”

Ifs Should Has Beens Found Written Mines Contemporary Unexpected Incapable Could Have Been Imitating Forerunners

Author:Robert Graves

“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.”

Ifs Knows Should Believe Enough Poetry Passion I Believe Break Honest Poet Masters Horror Lucky Grammar Travel Abroad Honest Woman

Author:Robert Graves

“She told me that all the girls in Annezin prayed every night for the war to end and for the English to go away as soon as their money was spent. She said that the clause about the money was always repeated in case God should miss it.”

Should War Ends Night Girl Cases Missing Going Away Village Every Night Great War Old Lady Clauses

Author:Robert Graves

“To recommend a monarchy on account of the prosperity it gives the provinces seems to me like recommending that a man should have liberty to treat his children as slaves, if at the same time he treats his slaves with reasonable consideration.”

Ifs Men Giving Should Children Seems Liberty Should Have Treats Accounts Slave Prosperity Reasonable Consideration Monarchy Provinces

Book:I, Claudius ; and, Claudius the god

Source: I, Claudius ; and, Claudius the god

“Every English poet should master the rules of grammar before he attempts to bend or break them.”

Should Break Poet Masters Grammar English Grammar

Author:Robert Graves

“There should be two main objectives in ordinary prose writing: to convey a message and to include in it nothing that will distract the reader's attention or check his habitual pace of reading - he should feel that he is seated at ease in a taxi, not riding a temperamental horse through traffic.”

Source: The Long Weekend : a Social History of Great Britain 1918-1939: And, The Reader Over Your Shoulder : a Handbook for Writers of English Prose

About the Author

Born: July 24, 1895
Died: December 7, 1985
Known for: Poet
Quotes: 128

Related Topics

Poet Ifs Men Poetry Should Hands Knows Writing 1935 People Poetic War Forget Made Seems Age Answers Children Claudius Ends

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Complete PoemsRelated source material

Conversations with Robert GravesRelated source material

Claudius the God and His Wife MessalinaRelated source material

I, Claudius ; and, Claudius the godRelated source material

Selected poemsRelated source material

Country SentimentRelated source material

I, ClaudiusRelated source material

Some speculations on literature, history, and religionRelated source material

The Greek Myths 1Related source material

Mammon and the black goddessRelated source material

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