Quotes By Author: Czeslaw Milosz

“The purpose of poetry is to remind us / how difficult it is to remain just one person…”

“I have defined poetry as a ‘passionate pursuit of the Real.”

“In the very essence of poetry there is something indecent; A thing brought forth that we didn’t know we had in us, So we blink our eyes, as if a tiger had sprung out And stood in the light, licking its tail.”

“No duties. I don’t have to be profound.I don’t have to be artistically perfect.Or sublime. Or edifying.I just wander. I say: ‘You were running,That’s fine. It was the thing to do.’And now the music of the worlds transforms me.My planet enters a different house.Trees and lawns become more distinct.Philosophies one after another go out.Everything is lighter yet not less odd.Sauces, wine vintages, dishes of meat.We talk a little of district fairs,Of travels in a covered wagon with a cloud of dust behind,Of how rivers once were, what the scent of calamus is.That’s better than examining one’s private dreams.And meanwhile it has arrived. It’s here, invisible.Who can guess how it got here, everywhere.Let others take care of it. Time for me to play hooky.Buena notte. Ciao. Farewell.”

“It is sweet to think I was a companion in an expedition that never ends”

“You see how I tryTo reach with wordsWhat matters mostAnd how I fail.”

“A true opium of the people is a belief in nothingness after death – the huge solace of thinking that for our betrayals, greed, cowardice, murders we are not going to be judged.”

“The purpose of poetry is to remind ushow difficult it is to remain just one person,for our house is open, there are no keys in the doors, and invisible guests come in and out at will.”

“In a room wherepeople unanimously maintaina conspiracy of silence,one word of truthsounds like a pistol shot.”

“LearningTo believe you are magnificent. And gradually to discover that you are not magnificent. Enough labor for one human life.”