W. B. Yeats

Supreme art is a traditional statement of certain heroic and religious truth, passed on from age to age, modified by individual genius, but never abandoned.

W. B. Yeats

Sweetheart, do not love too long: I loved long and long, and grew to be out of fashion like an old song.

W. B. Yeats

Take, if you must, this little bag of dreams, unloose the cord, and they will wrap you round.

W. B. Yeats

The common breeds the common, A lout begets a lout, So when I take on half a score I knock their heads about.

W. B. Yeats

The creations of a great writer are little more than the moods and passions of his own heart, given surnames and Christian names, and sent to walk the earth.

W. B. Yeats

The desire that is satisfied is not a great desire, nor has the shoulder used all its might that an unbreakable gate has never strained.

W. B. Yeats

The fascination of what’s difficult has dried the sap out of my veins and rent spontaneous joy and natural content out of my heart.

W. B. Yeats

The house ghost is usually a harmless and well-meaning creature. It is put up with as long as possible. It brings good luck to those who live with it.

W. B. Yeats

The intellect of man is forced to choose Perfection of the life, or of the work And if it take the second must refuse A heavenly mansion, raging in the dark.

W. B. Yeats

The labor of the alchemists, who were called artist in their day, is a befitting comparison for a deliberate change of style.

W. B. Yeats