Elizabeth Bishop

The art of losing isn’t hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster. Elizabeth Bishop The pigs stuck out their little feet and snored. Elizabeth Bishop What childishness is it that while there’s breath of life in our bodies, we are determined to [...]

Nicolas Boileau

The world is full of fools; and he who would not wish to see one, must not only shut himself up alone, but must also break his looking-glass. Nicolas Boileau The dreadful burden of having nothing to do. Nicolas Boileau  

Elizabeth Bibesco

To others we are not ourselves but performers in their lives cast for a part we do not even know we are playing. Elizabeth Bibesco It is sometimes the man who opens the door who is the last to enter the room. Elizabeth Bibesco Seeing through is rarely seeing into. Elizabeth Bibesco We often call [...]

John Berryman

Life, friends, is boring. We must not say so. John Berryman The artist is extremely lucky who is presented with the worst possible ordeal which will not actually kill him. At that point, he’s in business. John Berryman We must travel in the direction of our fear. John Berryman Bats have no bankers and they [...]

Wendell Berry

These are people who are capable of devotion, public devotion, to justice. They meant what they said and every day that passes, they mean it more. Wendell Berry We cannot comprehend what comprehends us. Wendell Berry All right, every day ain’t going to be the best day of your life, don’t worry about that. If [...]

Joachim du Bellay

France, mother of arts, of warfare, and of laws. Joachim du Bellay Happy the man who, like Ulysses, has made a fine voyage, or has won the Golden Fleece, and then returns, experienced and knowledgeable, to spend the rest of his life among his family. Joachim du Bellay In my opinion butlers ought To know [...]

Isaac de Benserade

The shameful never have dear friends. Isaac de Benserade

Stephen Vincent Benet

I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat. Stephen Vincent Benet Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways. Stephen Vincent Benet We thought, because we had power, we had wisdom. Stephen Vincent [...]

Hilaire Belloc

Loss and possession, death and life are one, There falls no shadow where there shines no sun. Hilaire Belloc Money gives me pleasure all the time. Hilaire Belloc Of all fatiguing, futile, empty trades, the worst, I suppose, is writing about writing. Hilaire Belloc An institute run with such knavish imbecility that if it were [...]

Thomas Lovell Beddoes

If there were dreams to sell, what would you buy? Thomas Lovell Beddoes

John Beecher

Strength is a matter of the made-up mind. John Beecher

Charles Baudelaire

France is not poetic; she even feels, in fact, a congenital horror of poetry. Among the writers who use verse, those whom she will always prefer are the most prosaic. Charles Baudelaire Genius is childhood recalled at will. Charles Baudelaire Hypocrite reader my fellow my brother! Charles Baudelaire I am unable to understand how a [...]

Matsuo Basho

There is nothing you can see that is not a flower; there is nothing you can think that is not the moon. Matsuo Basho Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home. Matsuo Basho Seek not to follow in the footsteps of men of old; seek what they sought. Matsuo Basho The [...]

John Barton

Poets can’t resist the dramatic pull of their lives and so inevitably write autobiographical verse. John Barton Who is the ideal reader? God only knows. John Barton A literary journal is intended to connect writer with reader; the role of the editor is to mediate. John Barton If poetry alters the way in which the [...]

Bernard Barton

No age, sex, or condition is above or below the absolute necessity of modesty; but without it one is vastly beneath the rank of man. Bernard Barton Welcome, wild harbinger of spring! To this small nook of earth; Feeling and fancy fondly cling, Round thoughts which owe their birth, To thee, and to the humble [...]

Richard Barnfield

He that is thy friend indeed, he will help thee in thy need: if thou sorrow, he will weep; if you wake, he cannot sleep; thus of every grief in heart he with thee doth bear a part. Richard Barnfield As it fell upon a day in the merry month of May, sitting in a [...]

Barnabe Barnes

A mass of dust, world’s momentary slave, Is man, in state of our old Adam made, Soon born to die, soon flourishing to fade. Barnabe Barnes Ah, sweet Content, where doth thine harbour hold. Barnabe Barnes

Joel Barlow

It is because the people are citizens that they are with safety armed. Joel Barlow There are many advantages in their being accustomed to the use of arms, and no possible disadvantage. Joel Barlow A habitual disuse of physical forces totally destroys the moral; and men lose at once the power of protecting themselves, and [...]

John Barbour

And should think freedom more to prize, than all the gold in world that is. John Barbour

Amiri Baraka

This is said to us, even as this counterfeit president has legalized the Confederate Flag in Mississippi. Amiri Baraka If the flag of an armed enemy of the U.S. is allowed to fly over government buildings, then it implies that slavery, or at least the threat of slavery, is sanctioned by that government and can [...]

Anna Letitia Barbauld

The most characteristic mark of a great mind is to choose some one important object, and pursue it for life. Anna Letitia Barbauld We neither laugh alone, nor weep alone, why then should we pray alone? Anna Letitia Barbauld But every act in consequence of our faith, strengthens faith. Anna Letitia Barbauld The dead of [...]

Thomas Babington

To punish a man because we infer from the nature of some doctrine which he holds, or from the conduct of other persons who hold the same doctrines with him, that he will commit a crime, is persecution, and is, in every case, foolish and wicked. Thomas Babington Nothing is so galling to a people [...]

Anacreon

I both love and do not love; and am mad and not mad. Anacreon Cursed be he above all others Who’s enslaved by love of money. Money takes the place of brothers, Money takes the place of parents, Money brings us war and slaughter. Anacreon

Philip James Bailey

America, thou half-brother of the world; with something good and bad of every land. Philip James Bailey Music tells no truths. Philip James Bailey Poets are all who love, who feel great truths, And tell them; and the truth of truths is love. Philip James Bailey The long days are no happier than the short [...]

Joanna Baillie

I wish I were with some of the wild people that run in the woods, and know nothing about accomplishments! Joanna Baillie Pampered vanity is a better thing perhaps than starved pride. Joanna Baillie A willing heart adds feather to the heel. Joanna Baillie I have seen the day, when, if a man made himself [...]

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