One must be as clear as one's natural reticence allows one to be. Marianne Moore More Quotes by Marianne Moore More Quotes From Marianne Moore I, too, dislike it. Reading it, however, with a perfect contempt for it, one discovers in it, after all, a place for the genuine. Marianne Moore genuine reading perfect When one is frank, one's very presence is a compliment. Marianne Moore frank honesty compliment It is in general true that in order to create works of art one has to have leisure. On the other hand I think that one needs to experience resistance in a practical sense, and even that which is poignant to bring out what makes easy reading for others. Too much deprivation of course, means death. Marianne Moore reading mean art I see no reason for calling my work poetry except that there is no other category in which to put it. Marianne Moore calling reason writing The power of the visible is the invisible. Marianne Moore visible invisible angel Wolf's wool is the best of wool, / but it cannot be sheared because / the wolf will not comply. Marianne Moore assertiveness wool resistance My father used to say, "Superior people never make long visits, have to be shown Longfellows grave, or the glass flowers at Harvard." Marianne Moore glasses flower father Poetry is a peerless proficiency of the imagination. Marianne Moore proficiency poetry imagination As for butterflies, I can hardly conceive of one's attending upon you; but to question the congruence of the complement is vain, if it exists. Marianne Moore congruence vain butterfly Which of us has not been stunned by the beauty of an animal's skin or its flexibility in motion? Marianne Moore welfare skins animal When you take my time, you take something I had meant to use. Marianne Moore interruptions use time We prove, we do not explain, our birth. Marianne Moore birth prove The Irish say your trouble is their trouble and your joy their joy? I wish I could believe it; I am troubled, I'm dissatisfied, I'm Irish. Marianne Moore wish joy believe [The] whirlwind fife-and-drum of the storm bends the salt marsh grass, disturbs stars in the sky and the star on the steeple; it is a privilege to see so much confusion. Marianne Moore stars loss sky We Call Them the Brave who likely were reluctant to be brave. Marianne Moore reluctant be-brave brave I'm troubled. I'm dissatisfied. I'm Irish. Marianne Moore dissatisfied nationalism To wear the arctic fox you have to kill it. Marianne Moore arctic foxes Unconfusion submits Marianne Moore herod proof confusion The cynics in life are the people who are always trying to do things for people who don't want things done for them. Marianne Moore always-trying done people I believe verbal felicity is the fruit of ardor, of diligence, and of refusing to be false. Marianne Moore diligence fruit believe
