Quotes About Expression

My horizon on humanity is enlarged by reading the writers of poems, seeing a painting, listening to some music, some opera, which has nothing at all to do with a volatile human condition or struggle or whatever. It enriches me as a human being.

I'm not one of those writers I learned about who get up in the morning, put a piece of paper in their typewriter machine and start writing. That I've never understood.

The greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism.

Some of us – poets are not exactly poets. We live sometimes – beyond the word.

Books and all forms of writing are terror to those who wish to suppress truth.

Nevertheless the passions, whether violent or not, should never be so expressed as to reach the point of causing disgust; and music, even in situations of the greatest horror, should never be painful to the ear but should flatter and charm it, and thereby always remain music.

The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.

All I insist on, and nothing else, is that you should show the whole world that you are not afraid. Be silent, if you choose; but when it is necessary, speak—and speak in such a way that people will remember it.

Nevertheless the passions, whether violent or not, should never be so expressed as to reach the point of disgust; and music, even in situations of the greatest horror, should never be painful to the ear but should flatter and charm it, and thereby always remain music.

My dear sister! I'm amazed to discover that you can compose so delightfully. In a word, your Lied is beautiful. You must compose more often.

Leck mich im Arsch! Laßt uns froh sein! Murren ist vergebens! Knurren, Brummen ist vergebens, ist das wahre Kreuz des Lebens, das Brummen ist vergebens, Knurren, Brummen ist vergebens, vergebens! Drum laßt uns froh und fröhlich, froh sein!

If one has the talent it pushes for utterance and torments one; it will out; and then one is out with it without questioning.

Wir brauchen keine Dichter mit guter Grammatik. Zu guter Grammatik fehlt uns Geduld. Wir brauchen die mit dem heißen heiser geschluchzten Gefühl. Die zu Baum Baum und zu Weib Weib sagen und ja sagen und nein sagen: laut und deutlich und dreifach und ohne Konjunktiv.

Half the time I feel like I'm appealing to the downer freaks out there. We start to play one downer record after another until I begin to get down myself. Give me something from 1960 or something let me get up again. The music of today is for downer freaks, and I'm an upper.

There is more of a nation's politics to be got out of its poetry than out of all its systematic writers on public affairs and constitutions.

I know what I think but I don't know how to put it into words. Maybe I could get a little bit drunk and dance it for you.

What has gotten into you lately? Save a little craziness for menopause!

If my films make one more person miserable, I'll feel I have done my job.

Does art imitate life, or does life imitate TV?

in fact, I'm an advocate for the straight edge. I don't live it, but I advocate it. So I don't encourage anyone to do any drugs, but on the other hand I believe in freedom.

Il sesso è sporco solo se fatto bene.

For all good poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings...

Poetry is the image of man and nature

The power of any art is limited