Quotes by Stephen Spender
Great poetry is always written by somebody straining to go beyond what he can do.
Religion stands, the Church blocking the sun.
When you read and understand a poem, comprehending its rich and formal meanings, then you master chaos a little.
There is a certain justice in criticism. The critic is like a midwife - a tyrannical midwife.
Death is another milestone on their way. With laughter on their lips and with winds blowing round them...
Critics of visual arts and of music describe in words—that is to say, a system of signs other than those made by brushes on canvas or chisel...
Unless, governor, teacher inspector, visitor, This map becomes their window and these windows...
She passes the houses which humbly crowd outside, The gasworks and at last the heavy page...
After the first powerful plain manifesto The black statement of pistons, without more fuss...
They think how one life hums, revolves and toils, One cog in a golden singing hive:
I think of those who were truly great. The names of those who in their lives fought for life, Who wore at their hearts the fire's center.
Consider his life which was valueless In terms of employment, hotel ledgers, news files....
History is the ship carrying living memories to the future.
Surely Shakespeare is wicked, the map a bad example With ships and sun and love tempting them to steal—
