The question is how to bring a work of imagination out of one language that was just as taken-for-granted by the persons who used it as our language is by ourselves. Nothing strange about it.

Poetry is at least an elegance and at most a revelation.

I think it was lucky that during most of the work on the Odyssey I lived on Homer's sea in houses that were, in one case, shaken by the impact of the Mediterranean winter storms on the rocks below.

Is encouragement what the poet needs? Open question. Maybe he needs discouragement. In fact, quite a few of them need more discouragement, the most discouragement possible.

Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story

The invention of Bob Dylan with his guitar belongs in its way to the same kind of tradition of something meant to be heard, as the songs of Homer.

Yes, and there were changes of light on landscapes and changes of direction of the wind and the force of the wind and weather. That whole scene is too important in Homer to neglect.

In fact, eloquence in English will inevitably make use of the Latin element in our vocabulary.

I think that everyone who took part has always been grateful for it.

Of course the other and more serious way in which it all happens is that one finds in poems and language some quality one appropriates for oneself and wishes to reproduce.

In a way you can feel that the poet actually is looking over your shoulder, and you say to yourself, now, how would this go for him? Would this do or not?

Anyone can choose to have success, but only the patient ones will get rewarded by it. Be relentless in chasing your dreams.

Make your failure the stepping-stone for success.

It's just hard to travel in the shadow of regret. In fact, it's so hard that I actually haven't left yet.

I would hate for someone to look at my shoe and say, 'Oh my God! That looks so comfortable!'

Even in death may you triumphant

There are some short essays that are very grave, and most contemporary novels are lighter than air.

The eleventh commandment of a motion picture negotiation: Thou shalt not take less than thy last deal.

Why don't we follow our yearning?

Nothing prints more lively in our minds than something we wish to forget.

To philosophize means to make vivid.