The American ideal is youth -- handsome, empty youth.

The artist is the opposite of the politically minded individual, the opposite of the reformer, the opposite of the idealist. The artist does not tinker with the universe; he re-creates it out of his own experience and understanding of life.

The best technique is none at all.

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The blind lead the blind. It’s the democratic way.

The Englishman, be it noted, seldom resorts to violence; when he is sufficiently goaded he simply opens up, like the oyster, and devours his adversary.

The Frenchman is first and foremost a man. He is likeable often just because of his weaknesses, which are always thoroughly human, even if despicable.

The man who is forever disturbed about the condition of humanity either has no problems of his own or has refused to face them.

The moment one is on the side of life “peace and security” drop out of consciousness. The only peace, the only security, is in fulfillment.

The new always carries with it the sense of violation, of sacrilege. What is dead is sacred; what is new, that is, different, is evil, dangerous, or subversive.

The poem is the dream made flesh, in a two-fold sense: as work of art, and as life, which is a work of art.