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Quote by Joseph Brodsky

“I didn't want to be either the cre`me de la cre`me or a martyr. I'd rather be a novelty, especially in a democracy that doesn't understand the language I write in.”

Quote by Joseph Brodsky

Author

Joseph Brodsky (May 24, 1940 - January 28, 1996) was a prominent poet of the 20th century, known for his profound thoughts and unique poetic style. His works cover a wide range of themes, including personal experiences, historical events, and philosophical reflections. Brodsky's poetry is characterized by its beautiful language and philosophical depth, and has had a profound impact on literature worldwide. more

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“A man should know about himself two or three things: whether he is a coward; whether he is an honest man or given to lies; whether he is an ambitious man. One should define oneself first of all in those terms, and only then in terms of culture, race, creed.”

Knows Men Should Firsts Two Lying Culture Three Given Term Race Honest Oneself Coward Ambitious Creeds Three Things Honest Man Ambitious Man

Author:Joseph Brodsky

“I grew up in the sort of cultural milieu that always regarded conversations about the political discourse as tremendously low-brow.”

Political Grew Conversation Grew Up Lows Discourse Brows Milieu Political Discourse

Author:Joseph Brodsky

“The government, the state, they're just objects of jokes rather than serious consideration. I can't possibly take them seriously.”

I Can States Government Objects Serious Jokes Consideration

Author:Joseph Brodsky

“I always like to make sequels. It's a nice business to be in.”

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“I don't have principles. I have nerves.”

Principles Nerves

Author:Joseph Brodsky

“In general, in America, every discourse in literature in 15 minutes degenerates into a conversation about ethics, morality and this and that. The Holocaust and the consequences of it. Well, I find it terribly boring, predictable and unimportant, because what matters about literature is esthetic achievement.”

Wells Matter America Literature Minutes Morality Conversation Achievement Ethics Consequence Boring Holocaust What Matters Discourse Predictable Unimportant Degenerates

Author:Joseph Brodsky

“In the West you have every opportunity for civilization to triumph.”

Opportunity Civilization West Triumph

Author:Joseph Brodsky

“It's partly the fault of the institutions of education. But it's partly the decision to be relieved of responsibility. Literature is simply the most focused form of the demands on the evolution of the species. It imposes a certain responsibility, moral, ethical and esthetic responsibility, and the species simply doesn't want to oblige.”

Want Form Certain Literature Decision Responsibility Moral Evolution Demand Institutions Faults Species Focused Ethical Relieved

Author:Joseph Brodsky

“Literature sort of makes your daily operation, your daily conduct, the management of your affairs in the society a bit more complex. And it puts what you do in perspective, and people don't like to see themselves or their activities in perspective. They don't feel quite comfortable with that. Nobody wants to acknowledge the insignificance of his life, and that is very often the net result of reading a poem.”

People Want Feels Reading Literature Bits Results Perspective Activity Comfortable Management Complexes Affair Operations Acknowledge Insignificance

Author:Joseph Brodsky

“I'm sure we all can remember back in the day when you're 17, naïve, you're sort of just this unblemished teenager. You're sort of sheltered and haven't really seen the real world and then when you do see it, you're just like... "This is the world? This is reality?"”

World Real Reality Remember Havens Teenager Real World Back In The Day

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