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Quote by W. H. Auden

“Of course,Behaviourism 'works'. So does torture.”

Quote by W. H. Auden

Author

W. H. Auden was a prominent 20th-century poet, celebrated for his innovative and influential poetry. His works frequently delve into themes of love, politics, and the human experience, and he is a pivotal figure in the literary movement known as New Criticism. Born on February 21, 1907, in York, England, Auden passed away on September 29, 1973. more

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“Marriage is rarely bliss But, surely it would be worse As particles to pelt At thousands of miles per sec About a universe In which a lover's kiss Would either not be felt Or break the loved one's neck.”

Would Be Universe Felt Break Lovers Kissing Miles Bliss Necks Loved Ones Particles

Author:W. H. Auden

“Into this neutral air Where blind skyscrapers use Their full height to proclaim The strength of Collective Man, Each language pours its vain Competitive excuse.”

Men Use Language Air Blind Excuse Vain Height Collectives Skyscraper

Book:Canción de cuna y otros poemas

Source: Canción de cuna y otros poemas

“At first critics classified authors as Ancients, that is to say, Greek and Latin authors, and Moderns, that is to say, every post-Classical Author. Then they classified them by eras, the Augustans, the Victorians, etc., and now they classify them by decades, the writers of the '30's, '40's, etc. Very soon, it seems, they will be labeling authors, like automobiles, by the year.”

Years Firsts Seems Critics Decades Eras Posts Greek Etc Latin Automobile Labeling

Author:W. H. Auden

“To have a sense of sin means to feel guilty at there being an ethical choice to make, a guilt which, however "good" I may become, remains unchanged.”

Feels May Mean Choices Sin Remains Guilt Guilty Ethical

Author:W. H. Auden

“Politics cannot be a science, because in politics theory and practice cannot be separated, and the sciences depend upon their separation.”

Practice Theory Depends Separation Truth And Justice Theory And Practice

Author:W. H. Auden

“Money is the necessity that frees us from necessity. Of all novelists in any country, Trollope best understands the role of money. Compared with him even Balzac is a romantic.”

Country Roles Novelists Balzac

Author:W. H. Auden

“Machines have no political opinions, but they have profound political effects. They demand a strict regimentation of time, and, by abolishing the need for manual skill, have transformed the majority of the population from workers into laborers. There are, that is to say, fewer and fewer jobs which a man can find a pride and satisfaction in doing well, more and more which have no interest in themselves and can be valued only for the money they provide.”

“It's frightfully important for a writer to be his age, not to be younger or older than he is. One might ask, "What should I write at the age of sixty-four," but never, "What should I write in 1940."”

Should Writing Important Might Age Asks Four Sixty Should I

Author:W. H. Auden

“Harrow the house of the dead; look shining at New styles of architecture, a change of heart.”

Looks Heart House Change Style Shining Architecture Change Of Heart

Author:W. H. Auden

“Private faces in public places Are wiser and nicer Than public faces in private places.”

Author:W. H. Auden