Quotes by Charles Olson

• I defer to all these other American poets who, for some reason, I both envy and admire.
• The poem, for me, is simply the first sound realized in the modality of being.
• When will government cease being a nuisance to everybody?
• We're all moving, moving, moving. Isn't it nice?
• We all want what's been suddenly disallowed.
• This morning of the small snow I count the blessings, the leak in the faucet which makes of the sink time, the drop of the water on water.
• You can read everybody. It's not even interesting to tell the truth because to some extent it's false.
• This country has been unconscious, and it's got to awake. That's my belief.
• There is a grace of life which is still yours, my dear Europe.
• The heroes of the present will retreat to the imitation they are anyhow.
• You can do anything, literally, right? That's one of the exciting possibilities of the present.
• I'm sorry, but I was born with a towel on my head.
• I'm one of the cliches that has grown up.
• I was playing catch with the European audience.
• I sound like Homer. I mean Winslow Homer.
• I remember way back when I was young, 10 years ago.
• I don't live for poetry. I live far more than anybody else does.
• I am happy to have some friends here in the kitchen.
• Forgive me if I sleep until I wake up.
• Fact is based upon vulgar matter.
• Atlantis will rise again.
• You don't help people in your poems. I've been trying to help people all my life - that's my trouble.
• I hope you're representing the devil's advocate.
• I'm trying to climb up both walls at once.