As birds' wings beat the solid air without which none could fly so words freed by the imagination affirm reality by their flight.

It is difficult to get the news from poems, yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there.

The beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

It is not what you say that matters but the manner in which you say it; there lies the secret of the ages.

The job of the poet is to use language effectively, his own language, the only language which is to him authentic.

The weight of love Has buoyed me up Till my head Knocks against the sky.

It is not fair to be old, to put on a brown sweater.

There is nothing beginning nor end to the imagination but it delights in its own seasons reversing the usual order at will.

My first poem was a bolt from the blue … it broke a spell of disillusion and suicidal despondence. ... it filled me with soul satisfying joy.

Somewhere the sense makes copper roses steel roses — The rose carried weight of love but love is at an end — of roses It is at the edge of the petal that love waits.

I think all writing is a disease. You can't stop it.

Marriage is not a Fashion show but Maturity and Management

In any really good subject one has only to probe deep enough to come to tears.

Why do you think I write these feminist songs, to try and teach myself to respect myself. You know, it's not because I'm a hero.

I am against abortion; I think that life is sacred and we should take a position of being against abortion. I think it is wrong to take human life. I think that human life starts at conception.

How many of you think it is time for American to stop pretending we are not Christian? If there's people in King, North Carolina who don't like that, there's lots of places you can move to.

I do read everything that we publish. We usually have to have two or three votes for a book before we take it on. So in that sense I suppose it is an orchestra.

I hate clutter. I can't stand it.

Your life expands in proportion to your courage. Fear limits a leader.

Rank does not intimidate hardware. Neither does the lack of rank.

Pleasure comes, but not to stay;Even this shall pass away.