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Robert Penn Warren

Robert Penn Warren Quotes

Poet

Robert Penn Warren was an American poet, novelist, and literary critic. His works are known for their profound social insight and unique portrayal of Southern culture. Warren's poetry and novels have won numerous literary awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1947 and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1955.

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Famous Robert Penn Warren Quotes

“In one deep sense, novels are concealed autobiography. I don't mean that you are telling facts about yourself, but you are trying to find out what you really think or who you are.”

Thinking Writing Trying Mean Facts Novel Who You Are About Yourself Autobiography Concealed One Deep

Author:Robert Penn Warren

“Most writers are trying to find what they think or feel. . . not simply working from the given, but toward the given, saying the unsayable and steadily asking, "What do I really feel about this?”

Thinking Feels Trying Given Asking

Book:Robert Penn Warren talking: interviews, 1950-1978

Source: Robert Penn Warren talking: interviews, 1950-1978

“Just tell 'em you're gonna soak the fat boys and forget the rest of the tax stuff...Willie, make 'em cry, make 'em laugh, make 'em mad, even mad at you. Stir them up and they'll love it and come back for more, but, for heaven's sakes, don't try to improve their minds.”

Trying Mind Heaven Stuff Forget Boys Laughing Cry Taxes Mad Sake Fats Ems

Author:Robert Penn Warren

“It is human defect — to try to know oneself by the self of another.”

Knows Trying Humans Self Defects

Author:Robert Penn Warren

“When you get born your father and mother lost something out of themselves, and they are going to bust a ham trying to get it back, and you are it. They know they can't get it all back but they will get as big a chunk out of you as they can.”

Knows Trying Bigs Mother Father Lost Born Chunks Ham

Author:Robert Penn Warren

About the Author

Born: April 24, 1905
Died: September 15, 1989
Known for: Poet
Quotes: 125

Related Topics

Men Ifs Knows History World Past Writing Poetry Life May Thinking Definitions Doe Ends Humans Littles Looks Poetry Is Self Trying

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

Books & Sources

All the King's MenRelated source material

The Collected Poems of Robert Penn WarrenRelated source material

The Legacy of the Civil WarRelated source material

Robert Penn Warren talking: interviews, 1950-1978Related source material

A Place to Come ToRelated source material

Selected Poems, 1923-1975Related source material

Wilderness: A Tale of the Civil WarRelated source material

A Robert Penn Warren readerRelated source material

A Time to Hear and Answer: Essays for the Bicentennial SeasonRelated source material

Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren: A Literary CorrespondenceRelated source material

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