Ashbery Poet Quotes & Sayings

When I drew Captain America in 'The Ultimates,' I hated my Cap, even though some people are like, 'Man, your Cap's cool!' and they made statues out of it. — Joe Madureira

I think that in the process of writing, all kinds of unexpected things happen that shift the poet away from his plan and that these accidents are really what we mean when we talk about poetry. — John Ashbery

We do have some strong traditions of community in the United States, but it's interesting to me that our traditionally patriotic imagery in this country celebrates the individual, the solo flier, independence. We celebrate Independence Day; we don't celebrate We Desperately Rely on Others Day. Oh, I guess that's Mother's Day [laughter]. It does strike me that our great American mythology tends to celebrate separate achievement and separateness, when in fact nobody does anything alone. — Barbara Kingsolver

You two seem to have become fast friends," Linley remarked.
"It's my way with women," Grant said. "They can't resist my charm."
Linley's mouth quirked. "Charm? I've never suspected you of having any."
They were both surprised to hear Vivien's feeble scratch of voice join in the conversation. "That's because... you're not a woman."
Grant stared at her with an unwilling smile. Half dead, she might be, but the instinct to flirt had not left her. And God help him, he was far from immune. "Rallying to my defense, are you?" He reached down to stroke the curve of her cheek with his fingertip. "I'll have to thank you later. — Lisa Kleypas

Transgress. In a word, be other than yourself in turning into your love-soaked opposite. — John Ashbery

The way you act can sometimes be totally different from the way you actually are. — Una LaMarche

I don't buy that there's nothing we can do to stop criminals and the mentally ill from killing if they want to. — Mike Quigley

So, there is enormous instability in the global economy with a shift of winners and losers. — David Korten

Ambassadors are, by definition, foreign bodies. — Clive Sinclair

To the poet as a basement quilt, but perhaps
To some reader a latticework of regrets ... — John Ashbery

So you've stopped thinking you're going to die?

Oh, I'm more certain of it than ever. But I've stopped being scared. — Carsten Jensen

Big news from last night's Republican debate, you guys. It turns out George Bush was actually the smart Texas governor. — Jimmy Fallon

The music brought us what it seemed / We had long desired, but in a form / so rarefied there was no emptiness of sensation — John Ashbery

Does killing time damage eternity? — George Carlin