Sordello Quotes & Sayings

When members of the London Poetry Society asked Browning to interpret a particularly difficult passage of Sordello, he read it twice, frowned, then admitted, "When I wrote that, God and I knew what I meant, but now God alone knows."
Rather than risk sounding dense, readers, colleagues, and critics who can't figure out what a writer is trying to say but think it sounds intelligent will typically resort to calling such work "daring," "provocative," or "complex." An unholy alliance of writers and readers is at work here. — Ralph Keyes

From her pocket Karamander took a vial of black liquid labelled: "Headbanger. Maximum strength." With a long pipette she dropped the liquid into Oraton-Marr's mouth, then she held his nose closed until he swallowed it... "He is asleep. He will sleep for seven days. And when he wakes he will have the worst headache imaginable. I have something that will cure it if he wishes to ask me. But he will have to come to me in person and ask very, very nicely indeed. — Angie Sage

If you get an opportunity to work with David Simon, anybody with good taste would. — Anthony Bourdain

the man, Jeff, to step away from the airplane. — John Grisham

It is of very little use in trying to be dignified, if dignity is no part of your character. — Christian Nestell Bovee

No one has seen God, but as we love one another, God lives in us. — Shane Claiborne

from The Barretts of Wimpole Street
Elizabeth: Sometimes there are passages . . . which rather puzzle me.
Browning: Oh, Sordello! I've done my best to forget it. However . . ( His smile fades. He mutters.) Extraordinary. . .But - but a passage torn from context . . .
Elizabeth: Well?
Browning: Well, Miss Barrett - when that passage was written only God and Robert Browning understood it. Now only God understands it. — Rudolf Besier