It is the unknown that excites the ardor of scholars, who, in the known alone, would shrivel up with boredom. — Wallace Stevens
How full of trifles everything is! it is only one’s thoughts that fill a room with something more than furniture. — Wallace Stevens
Intolerance respecting other people’s religion is toleration itself in comparison with intolerance respecting other people’s art. — Wallace Stevens
Everything is complicated; if that were not so, life and poetry and everything else would be a bore. — Wallace Stevens
Death is the mother of beauty; hence from her, alone, shall come fulfillment to our dreams and our desires. — Wallace Stevens
In poetry, you must love the words, the ideas and the images and rhythms with all your capacity to love anything at all. — Wallace Stevens
Most people read poetry listening for echoes because the echoes are familiar to them. — Wallace Stevens
One cannot spend one’s time in being modern when there are so many more important things to be. — Wallace Stevens
Reality is not what it is. It consists of the many realities which it can be made into. — Wallace Stevens
The philosopher proves that the philosopher exists. The poet merely enjoys existence. — Wallace Stevens
We say God and the imagination are one… how high that highest candle lights the dark. — Wallace Stevens
Reality is the beginning not the end, naked alpha, not the hierophant omega, of dense investiture, with luminous vassals. — Wallace Stevens