What answer to the meaning of existence should one require beyond the right to exercise one's gifts? W. H. Auden More Quotes by W. H. Auden More Quotes From W. H. Auden All I have is a voice. W. H. Auden voice Like everything which is not the involuntary result of fleeting emotion but the creation of time and will, any marriage, happy or unhappy, is infinitely more interesting than any romance, however passionate. W. H. Auden romancemarriageinteresting Every man carries with him through life a mirror, as unique and impossible to get rid of as his shadow. W. H. Auden mirrorsuniquemen The definition of prayer is paying careful and concentrated attention to something other than your own constructions. W. H. Auden definitionsprayerattention Those who will not reason, perish in the act. Those who will not act, perish for that reason. W. H. Auden reason People always get what they want. But there is a price for everything. Failures are either those who do not know what they want or are not prepared to pay the price asked them. The price varies from individual to individual. Some get things at bargain-sale prices, others only at famine prices. But it is no use grumbling. Whatever price you are asked, you must pay. W. H. Auden grumblingpay-the-pricepeople There are good books which are only for adults. There are no good books which are only for children. W. H. Auden adultsbookchildren A doctor, like anyone else who has to deal with human beings, each of them unique, cannot be a scientist; he is either, like the surgeon, a craftsman, or, like the physician and the psychologist, an artist. This means that in order to be a good doctor a man must also have a good character, that is to say, whatever weaknesses and foibles he may have, he must love his fellow human beings in the concrete and desire their good before his own. W. H. Auden lovecharactermean Some writers confuse authenticity, which they ought always to aim at, with originality, which they should never bother about. W. H. Auden funny-basketballconfusingconfusion Between friends differences in taste or opinion are irritating in direct proportion to their triviality. W. H. Auden funny-best-friendfunny-friendshipdifferences Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh. W. H. Auden inspirationallovelife Poetry might be defined as the clear expression of mixed feelings. W. H. Auden expressionfeelingsmight Whatever the field under discussion, those who engage in debate must not only believe in each other's good faith, but also in their capacity to arrive at the truth. W. H. Auden debatefieldsbelieve Some books are undeservedly forgotten; none are undeservedly remembered. W. H. Auden qualitybeerbook And none will hear the postman’s knock Without a quickening of the heart. For who can bear to feel himself forgotten? W. H. Auden forgottenbearsheart A professor is someone who talks in someone else's sleep. W. H. Auden educationgraduationinspirational Of course,Behaviourism 'works'. So does torture. W. H. Auden no-nonsensetorturedoe Whatever you do, good or bad, people will always have something negative to say W. H. Auden bad-peoplepeoplenegative The center that I cannot find is known to my unconscious mind. W. H. Auden unconsciousmindinspirational Of all possible subjects, travel is the most difficult for an artist, as it is the easiest for a journalist. W. H. Auden difficultartisttravel
