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Quote by William Butler Yeats

“For men were born to pray and save: Romantic Ireland's dead and gone, It's with O'Leary in the grave.”

Quote by William Butler Yeats

Author

William Butler Yeats

William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet, dramatist, and essayist, considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. His poetry deeply reflected the nationalist sentiments of Ireland and also showcased rich imagination and profound philosophical thinking. Yeats' poetic style was versatile, evolving from early romanticism to late symbolism, and his works have had a profound impact on literature both in Ireland and around the world. more

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“Acquaintance; companion; One dear brilliant woman; The best-endowed, the elect, All by their youth undone, All, all, by that inhuman Bitter glory wrecked.”

Youth Glory Dear Brilliant Bitter Companion Acquaintance Undone Inhuman

Book:The Collected Works of W.B. Yeats Volume I: The Poems: Revised Second Edition

Source: The Collected Works of W.B. Yeats Volume I: The Poems: Revised Second Edition

“We keep putting on programmes about famine in Ethiopia; that’s what’s happening. Too many people there. They can’t support themselves — and it’s not an inhuman thing to say. It’s the case. Until humanity manages to sort itself out and get a coordinated view about the planet it’s going to get worse and worse.”

People Humanity Views Cases Support Planets Happenings Manage Famine Programmes Inhuman Ethiopia

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“I'm not interested in doing something edgy with a capital E just so everyone knows, 'Oh, OK, now he's showing us he can do edgy.'”

Knows Can Do Not Interested Edgy

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“I broke my heart in two So hard I struck. What matter? for I know That out of rock, Out of a desolate source, Love leaps upon its course.”

Knows Heart Two Matter Hard Courses Rocks Source My Heart Broke Leap What Matters Desolate Broke My Heart

Book:The Collected Works of W. B. Yeats: Volume I: The Poems, 2nd Edition

Source: The Collected Works of W. B. Yeats: Volume I: The Poems, 2nd Edition

“Your hooves have stamped at the black margin of the wood, Even where horrible green parrots call and swing. My works are all stamped down into the sultry mud.”

Black Green Woods Horrible Swings Mud Margins Parrots

Book:The Major Works

Source: The Major Works

“My chair was nearest to the fire In every company That talked of love or politics, Ere Time transfigured me.”

Time Company Fire Chairs Triviality

Book:The Collected Works of W. B. Yeats: Volume I: The Poems, 2nd Edition

Source: The Collected Works of W. B. Yeats: Volume I: The Poems, 2nd Edition

“I am haunted by numberless islands, many a Danaan shore, Where Time would surely forget us, and Sorrow come near us no more;Soon far from the rose and the lily and fret of the flames would we be, Were we only white birds, my beloved, buoyed out on the foam of the sea!”

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Book:When You Are Old: Early Poems, Plays, and Fairy Tales

Source: When You Are Old: Early Poems, Plays, and Fairy Tales

“He Who is wrapped in purple robes, With planets in His care, Had pity on the least of things Asleep upon a chair.”

God Care Planets Pity Chairs Purple Robes

Book:COLLECTED POEMS OF W.B. YEATS

Source: COLLECTED POEMS OF W.B. YEATS

“Thought is a garment and the soul's a bride That cannot in that trash and tinsel hide: Hatred of God may bring the soul to God.”

May Soul God Hatred Trash Garments Brides Tinsel

Book:The Collected Poems of W. B. Yeats

Source: The Collected Poems of W. B. Yeats

“All men live in suffering I know as few can know, Whether they take the upper road Or stay content on the low.”

Knows Men Suffering Lows

Book:COLLECTED POEMS OF W.B. YEATS

Source: COLLECTED POEMS OF W.B. YEATS