“ Beauty ought to look a little surprised: it is the emotion that best suits her face. The beauty who does not look surprised, who accepts her position as her due - she reminds us too much of a prima donna. ”

“ Works of art, in my opinion, are the only objects in the material universe to possess internal order, and that is why, though I don't believe that only art matters, I do believe in Art for Art's sake. ”

“ To make us feel small in the right way is a function of art men can only make us feel small in the wrong way. ”

“ Love is always being given where it is not required. ”

“ History develops, art stands still. ”

“ The main facts in human life are five: birth, food, sleep, love and death. ”

“ A poem is true if it hangs together. Information points to something else. A poem points to nothing but itself. ”

“ The people I respect most behave as if they were immortal and as if society was eternal. ”

“ Unless we remember we cannot understand. ”

“ One must be fond of people and trust them if one is not to make a mess of life. ”