Cruelty is a part of nature, at least of human nature, but it is the one thing that seems unnatural to us. Robinson Jeffers More Quotes by Robinson Jeffers More Quotes From Robinson Jeffers Humanity is the start of the race; I say Humanity is the mould to break away from, the crust to break through, the coal to break into fire, The atom to be split. Robinson Jeffers break-through race fire We have to live like people in a web of knives, we mustn't reach out our hands or we get them gashed. Robinson Jeffers knives hands people Corruption never has been compulsory; when the cities lie at the monster's feet there are left the mountains. Robinson Jeffers cities feet lying civilization is a transient sickness. Robinson Jeffers sickness illness civilization Meteors are not needed less than mountains: Robinson Jeffers republic mountain shining Know that however ugly the parts appear the whole remains beautiful. Robinson Jeffers ugly beautiful beauty Death's a fierce meadowlark: but to die having made / Something more equal to the centuries / Than muscle and bone, is mostly to shed weakness. Robinson Jeffers bones fierce weakness Well: the day is a poem but too much Like one of Jeffers's, crusted with blood and barbaric omens Painful to excess, inhuman as a hawk's cry. Robinson Jeffers excess pain blood The heads of strong old age are beautiful beyond all grace of youth. Robinson Jeffers strong grace beautiful [K]now that however ugly the parts appear the whole remains beautiful. A severed hand Is an ugly thing, and man dissevered from the earth and stars and his history... for contemplation or in fact... Often appears atrociously ugly. Integrity is wholeness, the greatest beauty is Organic wholeness, the wholeness of life and things, the divine beauty of the universe. Robinson Jeffers stars beautiful beauty Justice and mercy/ Are human dreams, they do not concern the birds nor the fish nor eternal God. Robinson Jeffers dream justice bird Hear the music, the thunder of the wings. Love the wild swan. Robinson Jeffers swans wings love Pleasure is the carrot dangled to lead the ass to market; or the precipice. Robinson Jeffers ass carrots pleasure He is strong and pain is worse to the strong, incapacity is worse. Robinson Jeffers incapacity pain strong The cold passion for truth hunts in no pack. Robinson Jeffers cold passion truth There is no reason for amazement: surely one always knew that cultures decay, and life's end is death. Robinson Jeffers decay reason culture I have seen these ways of God: I know of no reason For fire and change and torture and the old returnings. Robinson Jeffers fire reason way God is a lion that comes in the night. God is a hawk gliding among the stars-- If all the stars and the earth, and the living flesh of the night that flows in between them, and whatever is beyond them Were that one bird. He has a bloody beak and harsh talons, he pounces and tears. Robinson Jeffers stars god night You making haste on decay: not blameworthy; life is good, be it stubbornly long or suddenly A mortal splendor: meteors are not needed less than mountains: shine, perishing republic. Robinson Jeffers shining life long I hate my verses, every line, every word. Oh pale and brittle pencils ever to try One grass-blade's curve, or the throat of one bird That clings to twig, ruffled against white sky. Oh cracked and twilight mirrors ever to catch One color, one glinting flash, of the splendor of things. Robinson Jeffers curves hate twilight
