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Quote by John Ashbery

“I would like to please the reader, and I think that surprise has to be an element of this, and that may necessitate a certain amount of teasing. To shock the reader is something else again. That has to be handled with great care if you're not going to alienate and hurt him, and I'm firmly against that, just as I disapprove of people who dress with that in mind - dye their hair blue and stick safety pins through their noses and so on.”

Author

John Ashbery

John Ashbery is an influential American poet born on July 28, 1927. Known for his innovative poetry style and rich imagination, his work has had a profound impact on postmodern poetry. more

“Just keep playing, mastering as you do the step Into disorder this one meant. Don't you see It's all we can do? Meanwhile, great fires Arise, as of haystacks aflame. The dial has been set And that's ominous, but all your graciousness in living Conspires with it, now that this is our home: A place to be from, and have people ask about.”

People Has Beens Home Asks Can Do Steps Fire Arise Disorder Graciousness Ominous

Book:A Wave: Poems

Source: A Wave: Poems

“How funny your name would be if you could follow it back to where the first person thought of saying it, naming himself that, or maybe some other persons thought of it and named that person. It would be like following a river to its source, which would be impossible. Rivers have no source.”

Ifs Firsts Persons Would Be Names Impossible Source Rivers Following First Person

Book:Notes from the Air: Selected Later Poems

Source: Notes from the Air: Selected Later Poems

“I write strictly for fun... as long as it stays fun I'll continue to do it.”

Writing Long Fun

Author:Tom Clancy

“If a hero must have an unmarked grave, it should at least be close to where his comrades fell." "Comrades?" "One way or another we all fight for the things we believe in. Doesn't that give us some common ground?”