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49 Beautiful Ezra Pound Quotes

Famous As: American Poet and Critic Known for His Works: ‘Ripostes’, ‘Hugh Selwyn Mauberley’ and the Epic Poem, ‘The Cantos’
Born On: October 30, 1885
Died On: November 1, 1972
Born In: Idaho, United States
Died At Age: 87
Ezra Weston Loomis Pound was among the most prominent poets who emerged to become immortal in history during the 20th century. In a divided world these poets found criticism with one reader and praise from another. He was also one of the most controversial critics and poets. Pound’s most sought after works include a promising collection of poems, called ‘The Pisan Cantos’. Ezra Pound’s sayings and thoughts are sure to change your perception towards life. In 1949 he was awarded the Bollingen Prize by the Library of Congress for “The Pisan Cantos” but resulted in a lot of controversy. Books like ‘Ripostes’ and ‘Hugh Selwyn Mauberley’ are counted among his notable works. His quotations and thoughts will surely inspire you to strive hard. Though his life and work is a perspective of the beholder, his quotes will surely lure all!
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Man reading should be man intensely alive. The book should be a ball of light in one's hand.

Man reading should be man intensely alive. The book should be a ball of light in one's hand.

Ezra Pound
Literature is news that stays news.

Literature is news that stays news.

Ezra Pound
There is no reason why the same man should like the same books at eighteen and at forty-eight

There is no reason why the same man should like the same books at eighteen and at forty-eight

Ezra Pound
The apparition of these faces in the crowd; 
Petals on a wet black bough.

The apparition of these faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet black bough.

Ezra Pound
And the days are not full enough
And the nights are not full enough
And life slips by like a field mouse
Not shaking the grass

And the days are not full enough And the nights are not full enough And life slips by like a field mouse Not shaking the grass

Ezra Pound
Properly, we should read for power. Man reading should be man intensely alive. The book should be a ball of light in one's hand.

Properly, we should read for power. Man reading should be man intensely alive. The book should be a ball of light in one's hand.

Ezra Pound
Speak against unconscious oppression,
Speak against the tyranny of the unimaginative,
Speak against bonds.

Speak against unconscious oppression, Speak against the tyranny of the unimaginative, Speak against bonds.

Ezra Pound
No man understands a deep book until he has seen and lived at least part of its contents.

No man understands a deep book until he has seen and lived at least part of its contents.

Ezra Pound
Real education must ultimately be limited to men who insist on knowing. The rest is mere sheep herding.

Real education must ultimately be limited to men who insist on knowing. The rest is mere sheep herding.

Ezra Pound
A slave is one who waits for someone to come and free him.

A slave is one who waits for someone to come and free him.

Ezra Pound
I desired my dust to be mingled with yours
Forever and forever and forever.

I desired my dust to be mingled with yours Forever and forever and forever.

Ezra Pound
If a man isn't willing to take some risk for his opinions, either his opinions are no good or he's no good

If a man isn't willing to take some risk for his opinions, either his opinions are no good or he's no good

Ezra Pound
The artist is always beginning. Any work of art which is not a beginning, an invention, a discovery is of little worth.

The artist is always beginning. Any work of art which is not a beginning, an invention, a discovery is of little worth.

Ezra Pound
Rhythm must have meaning.

Rhythm must have meaning.

Ezra Pound
What thou lovest well remains,

the rest is dross

What thou lov’st well shall not be reft from thee

What thou lov’st well is thy true heritage

What thou lovest well remains, the rest is dross What thou lov’st well shall not be reft from thee What thou lov’st well is thy true heritage

Ezra Pound
With one day's reading a man may have the key in his hands.

With one day's reading a man may have the key in his hands.

Ezra Pound
Glance is the enemy of vision.

Glance is the enemy of vision.

Ezra Pound
This is no book. Whoever touches this touches a man.

This is no book. Whoever touches this touches a man.

Ezra Pound
It is difficult to write a paradiso when all the superficial indications are that you ought to write an apocalypse.

It is difficult to write a paradiso when all the superficial indications are that you ought to write an apocalypse.

Ezra Pound
The sum of human wisdom is not contained in any one language, and no single language is capable of expressing all forms and degrees of human comprehension.

The sum of human wisdom is not contained in any one language, and no single language is capable of expressing all forms and degrees of human comprehension.

Ezra Pound
A real building is one on which the eye can light and stay lit.

A real building is one on which the eye can light and stay lit.

Ezra Pound
I have tried to write Paradise

Do not move
Let the wind speak
that is paradise.

Let the Gods forgive what I
have made
Let those I love try to forgive
what I have made.

I have tried to write Paradise Do not move Let the wind speak that is paradise. Let the Gods forgive what I have made Let those I love try to forgive what I have made.

Ezra Pound
The temple is holy because it is not for sale

The temple is holy because it is not for sale

Ezra Pound
When words cease to cling close to things, kingdoms fall, empires wane and diminish.

When words cease to cling close to things, kingdoms fall, empires wane and diminish.

Ezra Pound
Good art however

Good art however "immoral" is wholly a thing of virtue. Good art can not be immoral. By good art I mean art that bears true witness, I mean the art that is most precise.

Ezra Pound
The only thing one can give an artist is leisure in which to work. To give an artist leisure is actually to take part in his creation.

The only thing one can give an artist is leisure in which to work. To give an artist leisure is actually to take part in his creation.

Ezra Pound
The serious artist must be as open as nature. Nature does not give all of herself in a paragraph. She is rugged and not set apart into discreet categories.

The serious artist must be as open as nature. Nature does not give all of herself in a paragraph. She is rugged and not set apart into discreet categories.

Ezra Pound
Man reading ought to be a man intensely alive. The book ought to be a ball of light in his hands.

Man reading ought to be a man intensely alive. The book ought to be a ball of light in his hands.

Ezra Pound
I would hold the rosy, slender fingers of the dawn for you.

I would hold the rosy, slender fingers of the dawn for you.

Ezra Pound
Nothing written for pay is worth printing. Only what has been written against the market.

Nothing written for pay is worth printing. Only what has been written against the market.

Ezra Pound
Small talk comes from small bones

Small talk comes from small bones

Ezra Pound
Anyone who is too lazy to master the comparatively small glossary necessary to understand Chaucer deserves to be shut out from the reading of good books forever.

Anyone who is too lazy to master the comparatively small glossary necessary to understand Chaucer deserves to be shut out from the reading of good books forever.

Ezra Pound
What thou lovest well remains,

What thou lovest well remains,

Ezra Pound
Don't be blinded by the theorists and a lying press.

Don't be blinded by the theorists and a lying press.

Ezra Pound
Adolf Hitler was a Jeanne d'Arc, a saint. He was a martyr.

Adolf Hitler was a Jeanne d'Arc, a saint. He was a martyr.

Ezra Pound
The thought of what America would be like
If the Classics had a wide circulation
Troubles my sleep (Cantico del Sole)

The thought of what America would be like If the Classics had a wide circulation Troubles my sleep (Cantico del Sole)

Ezra Pound
Nothing matter but the quality/ of the affection—/in the end—that has carved the trace in the mind dove sta memoria

Nothing matter but the quality/ of the affection—/in the end—that has carved the trace in the mind dove sta memoria

Ezra Pound
In our time, the curse is monetary illiteracy, just as inability to read plain print was the curse of earlier centuries.

In our time, the curse is monetary illiteracy, just as inability to read plain print was the curse of earlier centuries.

Ezra Pound
What thou lovest well remains. The rest is dross.

What thou lovest well remains. The rest is dross.

Ezra Pound
Come, let us pity those who are better off than we are.
Come, my friend, and remember
 that the rich have butlers and no friends,
And we have friends and no butlers.
(excerpt from 'The Garrett')

Come, let us pity those who are better off than we are. Come, my friend, and remember that the rich have butlers and no friends, And we have friends and no butlers. (excerpt from 'The Garrett')

Ezra Pound
The eyes of this dead lady speak to me
For here was love, was not to be drowned out.
And here desire, not to be kissed away.

The eyes of this dead lady speak to me.

The eyes of this dead lady speak to me For here was love, was not to be drowned out. And here desire, not to be kissed away. The eyes of this dead lady speak to me.

Ezra Pound
Where the dead walked
	and the living were made of cardboard.

Where the dead walked and the living were made of cardboard.

Ezra Pound
You have been second always. Tragical?
No. You preferred it to the usual thing:
One dull man, dulling and uxorious,
One average mind- with one thought less, each year.

You have been second always. Tragical? No. You preferred it to the usual thing: One dull man, dulling and uxorious, One average mind- with one thought less, each year.

Ezra Pound
Pay no attention to the criticism of men who have never themselves written a notable work. --Ezra Pound

Pay no attention to the criticism of men who have never themselves written a notable work. --Ezra Pound

Ezra Pound
Fundamental accuracy of statement is the ONE sole morality of writing.

Fundamental accuracy of statement is the ONE sole morality of writing.

Ezra Pound
As a bathtub 
lined with white porcelain, 
When the hot water gives out or goes tepid, 
So is the slow cooling of our chivalrous passion, 
O my much praised but-not-altogether-satisfactory lady.

As a bathtub lined with white porcelain, When the hot water gives out or goes tepid, So is the slow cooling of our chivalrous passion, O my much praised but-not-altogether-satisfactory lady.

Ezra Pound
A people that grows accustomed to sloppy writing is a people in process of losing grip on its empire and on itself.

A people that grows accustomed to sloppy writing is a people in process of losing grip on its empire and on itself.

Ezra Pound
When I carefully consider the curious habits of dogs
I am compelled to conclude
That man is the superior animal.

When I consider the curious habits of man
I confess, my friend, I am puzzled

When I carefully consider the curious habits of dogs I am compelled to conclude That man is the superior animal. When I consider the curious habits of man I confess, my friend, I am puzzled

Ezra Pound
Literature is language charged with meaning.

Literature is language charged with meaning.

Ezra Pound