Quotes by John Berryman

“Them lady poets must not marry, pal.”

“Them lady poets must not marry, pal . . . It is a true error to marry with poets / or to be by them.”

“During those years he met his seminars,went & lectured & read, talked with human beings,paid insurance & taxes;but his mind was not on it. his mind was elsewheresin an area where the soul not talks...”

“I am so wise I had my mouth sewn shut.”

“You should always be trying to write a poem you are unable to write, a poem you lack the technique, the language, the courage to achieve. Otherwise you're merely imitating yourself, going nowhere, ...”

“These Songs are not meant to be understood, you understand.They are only meant to terrify & comfort.”

“But neither money nor machines can create. They shuttle tokens of energy, but they do not transform. A civilization based on them puts people out of touch with their creative powers.”

“An anaesthetic is a poet-killer.”

“I do strongly feel that among the greatest pieces of luck for high achievement is ordeal. Certain great artists can make out without it, Titian and others, but mostly you need ordeal. My idea is th...”

“Is stuffed, de world, wif feeding girls.”

“The Prayer of the Middle-Aged ManAmid the doctors in the Temple at twelve, between mother & host at Cana implored too soon, in the middle of disciples, the midst of the mob, between High-Priest and...”

“Irony has only emergency use. Carried over time it is the voice of the trapped who have come to enjoy their cage.”

“I ask for a decreedooming my bitter enemies to laughteradvanced against them.”

“We must travel in the direction of our fear.”

“Henry is tired of winter,& haircuts, & a squeamish comfy ruin-prone proud national mind, & Spring (in the city so called)Henry likes Fall.H would be prepared to lve in a world of Fllfor ever, impen...”

“These Songs are not meant to be understood, you understand.They are only meant to terrify & comfort.”

“Them lady poets must not marry, pal.”

“Them lady poets must not marry, pal . . . It is a true error to marry with poets / or to be by them.”

“During those years he met his seminars,went & lectured & read, talked with human beings,paid insurance & taxes;but his mind was not on it. his mind was elsewheresin an area where the soul not talks...”

“Is stuffed, de world, wif feeding girls.”