Modern art is what happens when painters stop looking at girls and persuade themselves that they have a better idea. John Ciardi More Quotes by John Ciardi More Quotes From John Ciardi Conviction is possible only in a world more primitive than ours can be perceived to be. A man can achieve a simply gnomic conviction only by ignoring the radical describers of his environment, or by hating them, as convinced men have hated, say, Darwin and Freud, as agents of some devil. John Ciardi devilhatemen Who could believe an ant in theory? A giraffe in blueprint? Ten thousand doctors of what's possible Could reason half the jungle out of being. John Ciardi doctorsanimalbelieve A neighborhood is a residential area that is changing for the worse. John Ciardi city-lifeareasneighborhood Boys are the cash of war. John Ciardi cashboyswar Gentility is what is left over from rich ancestors after the money is gone. John Ciardi richmodern-lifegone What has any poet to trust more than the feel of the thing? Theory concerns him only until he picks up his pen, and it begins to concern him again as soon as he lays it down. John Ciardi concernpoettheory A university is a reading and discussion club. If students knew how to use the library, they wouldn't need the rest of the buildings. The faculty's job, in great part, is to teach students how to use a library in a living way. All a student should really need is access to the library and a place to sleep. John Ciardi readingsleepjobs At the next vacancy for God, if I am elected, I shall forgive last the delicately wounded who, having been slugged no harder than anyone else, never got up again, neither to fight back, nor to finger their jaws in painful admiration. John Ciardi forgivingnextfighting Honesty: The ability to resist small temptations. John Ciardi abilityhonestytemptation There is nothing wrong with sobriety in moderation. John Ciardi It is easy enough to praise men for the courage of their convictions. I wish I could teach the sad young of this mealy generation the courage of their confusions. John Ciardi sadcouragewishmen
