W.H. Auden Quotes

For poetry makes nothing happen.

poetry

Without art, we should have no notion of the sacred; without science, we should always worship false gods.

art science gods worship false sacred

When someone between twenty and forty says, apropos of a work of art, 'I know what I like,' he is really saying 'I have no taste of my own but accept the taste of my cultural milieu.

work art taste accept

There are good books which are only for adults. There are no good books which are only for children.

children good adults books

Funeral BluesStop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone, Silence the pianos and with muffled drumBring out the coffin, let the mourners come. Let aeropanes circle moaning overheadScribbling on the sky the message He is Dead. Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves, Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves. He was my North, my South, my East and West, My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song; I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong. The stars are not wanted now; put out every one, Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun, Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods; For nothing now can ever come to any good.

poetry silence death rest thought sky good wrong song stars moon sun black dog south public dead talk forever working ocean white message woods funeral clocks love west traffic

Each in the cell of himself is almost convinced of his freedom.

freedom

The friends who met here and embraced are gone, Each to his own mistake;

friendship decisions lifestyle

I smell blood and an era of prominent madmen.

life writing absurd