A poet is someone who is astonished by everything.

A poet is someone who is astonished by everything.

I would live to study, and not study to live.

I would live to study, and not study to live.

All literature is political.

All literature is political.

When I give a lecture, I accept that people look at their watches, but what I do not tolerate is read more

When I give a lecture, I accept that people look at their watches, but what I do not tolerate is when they look at it and raise it to their ear to find out if it stopped.

In the history of literature there are many great enduring works which were not published in the lifetimes of the read more

In the history of literature there are many great enduring works which were not published in the lifetimes of the authors. If the authors had not achieved self-affirmation while writing, how could they have continued to write? - Nobel Lecture 2000.

A novel is never anything but a philosophy put into images.

A novel is never anything but a philosophy put into images.

A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in students.

A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in students.

Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.

Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.

Literary Men are . . . a perpetual priesthood.

Literary Men are . . . a perpetual priesthood.