William Butler Yeats
Ireland
13 Jun 1865 // 28 Jan 1939
Poet
13 Jun 1865 // 28 Jan 1939
Poet
Quotes
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When you are old and gray and full of sleep
And nodding by the fire, take down this book.
And nodding by the fire, take down this book.
The Rose, 1893. When You Are Old
Some burn damp faggots, others may consume
The entire combustible world in one small room.
The entire combustible world in one small room.
The Wild Swans at Coole 1919. In Memory of Major Robert Gregory
O what fine thought we had because we thought that the worst rogues and rascals had died out.
Nineteen Hundred And Nineteen
In courtesy I'd have her chiefly learned;
Hearts are not had as a gift but hearts are earned.
Hearts are not had as a gift but hearts are earned.
Michael Robartes and the Dancer, 1921. A Prayer for My Daughter
Red Rose, proud Rose, sad Rose of all my days!
Come near me, while I sing the ancient ways.
Come near me, while I sing the ancient ways.
The Rose, 1893. To the Rose Upon the Rood of Time
No art can conquer the people alone - the people are conquered by an ideal of life upheld by authority.
And pluck till time and times are done
The silver apples of the moon
The golden apples of the sun.
The silver apples of the moon
The golden apples of the sun.
The Wind Among the Reeds, 1899, The Song of Wandering, Aengus
Odor of blood when Christ was slain
Made all Platonic tolerance vain
And vain all Doric discipline.
Made all Platonic tolerance vain
And vain all Doric discipline.
The Tower, 1928. Two Songs from a Play
If there's no hatred in a mind
Assault and battery of the wind
Can never tear the linnet from the leaf
Assault and battery of the wind
Can never tear the linnet from the leaf
Michael Robartes and the Dancer, 1921. A Prayer for My Daughter
But is there any comfort to be found?
Man is in love and loves what vanishes,
What more is there to say?
Man is in love and loves what vanishes,
What more is there to say?
The Tower, 1928. Nineteen Hundred and Nineteen
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On Anger: "For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."
Essays
Essays
On Destiny: "Our destiny exercises its influence over us even when, as yet, we have not learned its nature: it is our future that lays down the law of our today."
Human, All Too Human
Human, All Too Human
On Friendship: "A crowd is not company; and faces are but a gallery of pictures; and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love."
Essays
Essays