I was thinking, "So, I’m Emperor, am I? What nonsense! But at least I'll be able to make people read my books now. Robert Graves More Quotes by Robert Graves More Quotes From Robert Graves As you are woman, so be lovely: As you are lovely, so be various, Merciful as constant, constant as various, So be mine, as I yours for ever. Robert Graves various lovely constant I believe that every English poet should read the English classics, master the rules of grammar before he attempts to bend or break them, travel abroad, experience the horrors of sordid passion, and - if he is lucky enough - know the love of an honest woman. Robert Graves passion poetry believe Genius not only diagnoses the situation but supplies the answers. Robert Graves diagnosis genius answers Lovers to-day and for all time Preserve the meaning of my rhyme: Love is not kindly nor yet grim But does to you as you to him. Robert Graves lovers doe love-is Abstract reason, formerly the servant of practical human reasons, has everywhere become its master, and denies poetry any excuse for existence. Robert Graves fancy humorous poetry Love is a universal migraine. A bright stain on the vision, Blotting out reason. Robert Graves vision reason love Originally marriage meant the sale of a woman by one man to another; now most women sell themselves though they have no intention of delivering the goods listed in the bill of sale. Robert Graves bills marriage men To be a poet is a condition rather than a profession. Robert Graves conditions profession poet Every fairy child may keep Two strong ponies and ten sheep; All have houses, each his own, Built of brick or granite stone; They live on cherries, they run wild I'd love to be a Fairy's child. Robert Graves strong running children No poem is worth anything unless it starts from a poetic trance, out of which you can be wakened by interruption as from a dream. In fact, it is the same thing. Robert Graves poetic dream facts The remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that he really is very good, in spite of all the people who say he is very good. Robert Graves hilarious laughter funny In love as in sport, the amateur status must be strictly maintained. Robert Graves inspiration love sports As was the custom in such cases, the pear tree was charged with murder and sentenced to be uprooted and burned. Robert Graves pears murder tree There should be two main objectives in ordinary prose writing: to convey a message and to include in it nothing that will distract the reader's attention or check his habitual pace of reading - he should feel that he is seated at ease in a taxi, not riding a temperamental horse through traffic. Robert Graves horse reading writing If I thought that any poem of mine could have been written by anyone else, either a contemporary or a forerunner, I should suppress it with a blush; and I should do the same if I ever found I were imitating myself. Every poem should be new, unexpected, inimitable, and incapable of being parodied. Robert Graves unexpected should found We forget cruelty and past betrayal, Heedless of where the next bright bolt may fall. Robert Graves betrayal past fall You mean that people who continue virtuous in an old-fashioned way must inevitably suffer in times like these? Robert Graves times-like-these mean people She tells her love while half asleep, In the dark hours, With half-words whispered low: As Earth stirs in her winter sleep And puts out grass and flowers Despite the snow, Despite the falling snow. Robert Graves flower sleep fall Never use the word 'audience.' The very idea of a public, unless the poet is writing for money, seems wrong to me. Poets don't have an 'audience'. They're talking to a single person all the time. Robert Graves writing talking ideas When the immense drugged universe explodes In a cascade of unendurable colour And leaves us gasping naked, This is no more than the ectasy of chaos: Hold fast, with both hands, to that royal love Which alone, as we know certainly, restores Fragmentation into true being. Ecstasy of Chaos Robert Graves royal naked hands
