Poetry is the music of the soul, and, above all, of great and feeling souls.

Poetry is the music of the soul, and, above all, of great and feeling souls.

Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth.

Poetry is the art of uniting pleasure with truth.

Poetry is a way of taking life by the throat.

Poetry is a way of taking life by the throat.

You speak
As one who fed on poetry.

You speak
As one who fed on poetry.

The true poem is the poet's mind.

The true poem is the poet's mind.

The finest poetry was first experience.

The finest poetry was first experience.

For florid prose, nor honied lies of rhyme,
Can blazon evil deeds, or consecrate a crime.

For florid prose, nor honied lies of rhyme,
Can blazon evil deeds, or consecrate a crime.

Poetry is not a profession, it is a destiny.

Poetry is not a profession, it is a destiny.

A poet is an unhappy being whose heart is torn by secret sufferings, but whose lips are so strangely formed read more

A poet is an unhappy being whose heart is torn by secret sufferings, but whose lips are so strangely formed that when the sighs and the cries escape them, they sound like beautiful music... and then people crowd about the poet and say to him: "Sing for us soon again;" that is as much as to say, "May new sufferings torment your soul.".