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Quote by John Ashbery

“The facts of history have been too well rehearsed.”

Quote by John Ashbery

Book:Selected poems

Work

This book compiles a selection of poems that showcase the depth and diversity of the author's poetic voice, exploring a range of subjects and employing different literary techniques. more

Author

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

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“One can lose a good idea by not writing it down, yet by losing it one can have it: it nourishes other asides it knows nothing of, would not recognize itself in, yet when the negotiations are terminated, speaks in the acts of that progenitor, and does recognize itself, is grateful for not having done so earlier.”

Knows Writing Doe Ideas Done Speak Loses Losing Grateful Good Ideas Negotiation

Author:John Ashbery

“The mind Is so hospitable, taking in everything Like boarders, and you don't see until It's all over how little there was to learn Once the stench of knowledge has dissipated.”

Book:Selected poems

Source: Selected poems

“Once a happy old man One can never change the core of things, and light burns you the harder for it.”

Men Light Age Harder Core Old Age Old Man Never Change

Book:Selected poems

Source: Selected poems

“What is the past, what is it all for? A mental sandwich?”

Past Sandwiches

Book:Selected poems

Source: Selected poems

“I am often asked why I write, and I don't know really--I just want to.”

Knows Want Writing

Author:John Ashbery

“We might realize that the present moment may be one of an eternal or sempiternal series of moments, all of which will resemble it because, in some ways, they are the present, and won't in other ways, because the present will be the past by that time.”

Way May Moments Might Past Realizing Eternal Series Present Moment

Author:John Ashbery

“The promise of learning is a delusion.... Tomorrow would alter the sense of what had already been learned, that the learning process is extended in this way, so that from this standpoint none of us ever graduates from college, for time is an emulsion, and probably thinking not to grow up is the brightest kind of maturity for us, right now at any rate.”

Thinking Way Kind Grows Process Growing Up College Tomorrow Promise Right Now Rate Maturity Delusion Graduates Standpoint Learning Process

Book:Selected poems

Source: Selected poems

“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.”

People Ifs Thinking Mind May Care Certain Hurt Hair Reader Amount Please Elements Dresses Safety Blue Sticks Surprise Noses Shock Pins Tease Safety Pins

Author:John Ashbery

“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