To evade such temptations is the first duty of the poet. For as the ear is the antechamber to the soul, poetry can adulterate and destroy more surely then lust or gunpowder. The poet's, then, is the highest office of all. His words reach where others fall short. A silly song of Shakespeare's has done more for the poor and the wicked than all the preachers and philanthropists in the world.
("Orlando")
More Quotes from Virginia Woolf:
On the outskirts of every agony sits some observant fellow who points.Virginia Woolf
She had a right to his arm, though it was without feeling. He would give her, who was so simple, so impulsive, only twenty-four, without friends in England, who had left Italy for his sake, a piece of bone.
Virginia Woolf
The interest in life does not lie in what people do, nor even in their relations to each other, but largely in the power to communicate with a third party, antagonistic, enigmatic, yet perhaps persuadable, which one may call life in general.
Virginia Woolf
Mrs Dalloway is always giving parties to cover the silence
Virginia Woolf
One wanted, she thought, dipping her brush deliberately, to be on a level with ordinary experience, to feel simply that's a chair, that's a table, and yet at the same time, It's a miracle, it's an ecstasy.
Virginia Woolf
Well, I've had my fun; I've had it, he thought, looking up at the swinging baskets of pale geraniums. And it was smashed to atoms-his fun, for it was half made up, as he knew very well; invented, this escapade with the girl; made up, as one makes up the better part of life, he thought-making onself up; making her up; creating an exquisite amusement, and something more. But odd it was, and quite true; all this one could never share-it smashed to atoms.
Virginia Woolf
Readers Who Like This Quotation Also Like:
Based on Topics: Duty Quotes, Literature Quotes, Poetry Quotes, Poets Quotes, Soul Quotes, Temptation Quotes, World QuotesBased on Keywords: adulterate, antechamber, philanthropists
There's no religion but sex and music.
Sting
I try to be the best husband I can be, and if people respect that, that's cool. But there's no "perfect husband." We just all try to do the best we can, you know what I mean?
Nick Lachey
The school made it very clear that women were entitled to positions of authority. That sense of entitlement allowed us to feel that we have a natural place in leadership in the world. That gave me a mental and emotional confidence.
Linda Vester