Quotessence
Home / Authors / W. H. Auden
W. H. Auden

W. H. Auden Quotes

Poet

Filter quotes by topic

AllMenIfsPoetArtKnowsWritingPeopleShouldMayHumansLoveThinkingWorldDoeFeelsBelieveChildrenHeartPersonsBook

Famous W. H. Auden Quotes

“There is a certain kind of person who is so dominated by the desire to be loved for himself alone that he has constantly to test those around him by tiresome behavior; what he says and does must be admired, not because it is intrinsically admirable, but because it is his remark, his act. Does not this explain a good deal of avant-garde art?”

KindPersonsDoeArtDesireCertainDealsBehaviorTestsRemarksAdmirableAvant GardeTiresomeAvant Garde Art
Author:W. H. Auden
Create image

“It's a pity I am so impatient and careless, as any ordinary person could learn all the techniques of photography in a week. It is the democratic art, i.e. technical skill is practically eliminated - the more foolproof cameras become with focusing and exposure gadgets the better - and artistic quality depends only on choice of subject.”

PersonsArtChoicesQualityWeekSubjectsDependsSkillsPhotographyOrdinaryCamerasDemocraticTechniquePityArtisticExposureImpatientCarelessGadgetsOrdinary PersonTechnical SkillsFoolproof
Author:W. H. Auden
Create image

“The true men of action in our time those who transform the world are not the politicians and statesmen but the scientists. Unfortunately poetry cannot celebrate them because their deeds are concerned with things, not persons, and are therefore speechless. When I find myself in the company of scientists, I feel like a shabby curate who has strayed by mistake into a drawing room full of dukes.”

MenWorldFeelsPersonsArtActionScienceRoomsMistakeCompanyPoliticianConcernedScientistDeedsDrawingCelebrateOur TimeStatesmenDukesTrue ManSpeechlessShabby
Author:W. H. Auden
Create image