Quotes by Richard Hugo

Richard Hugo (1923–1982) — Dichter und Hochschullehrer · säkular · USA

Richard Hugo (1923–1982) war ein US-amerikanischer Dichter und Hochschullehrer, der an der University of Montana lehrte. Sein literarisches Werk ist geprägt von der Auseinandersetzung mit menschlicher Verlorenheit, persönlichen Krisen und den melancholischen Landschaften des pazifischen Nordwestens. Für Bibelleser bieten seine Texte über Schmerz und die Würde des unvollkommenen Lebens existenzielle Anknüpfungspunkte zum Nachdenken über Trost und Resilienz.

Era: The 20th Century

Recurring topics: Wisdom & Understanding, Meaning & Identity, Freedom & Truth, Courage & Strength, Work & Vocation, Hope & Confidence, Time & Transience, Humility & Pride

Quotes by Richard Hugo

The Bible is full of old stories that happen anew every day.
Richard Hugo

Whoever seems to be able to do nothing more can still do the most important thing: connect themselves in prayer to the almighty power of God.
Richard Hugo

Love is the only thing that grows when we waste it.
Richard Hugo

I hate that phrase "the real world." Why is an aircraft factory more real than a university? Is it?
Richard Hugo

Hope for what? I don’t know. Maybe hope that humanity will always survive civilization.
Richard Hugo

The car that brought you here still runs.
Richard Hugo

Whoever enters a Gothic church with old stained-glass windows leaves behind what carries weight on earth. He is transported into a realm that is not of this world.
Richard Hugo

You owe reality nothing and the truth about your feelings everything.
Richard Hugo

To write a poem you must have a streak of arrogance-- not in real life I hope. In real life try to be nice. It will save you a hell of a lot of trouble and give you more time to write.
Richard Hugo

There are those usual people who try desperately to appear unusual and there are unusual people who try to appear usual.
Richard Hugo

Believe you and I sing tiny and wise and could if we had to eat stone and go on.
Richard Hugo

You are someone and you have a right to your life.
Richard Hugo

In the world of imagination, all things belong.
Richard Hugo

Scholars look for final truths they will never find. Creative writers concern themselves with possibilities that are always there to the receptive.
Richard Hugo

Never write a poem about anything that ought to have a poem written about it, a wise man once told me.
Richard Hugo

Don’t start arguments. They are futile and take us away from our purpose. As Yeats noted, your important arguments are with yourself. If you don’t agree with me, don’t listen. Think about something else.
Richard Hugo

I fear, trying to improve human nature.
Richard Hugo

The new generation of Germans belongs to the most democratic, humane, and progressive peoples of the world.
Richard Hugo

Assuming you can write clear English sentences, give up all worry about communication. If you want to communicate, use the telephone.
Richard Hugo

In truth, the writer’s problems are usually psychological, like everyone else’s.
Richard Hugo

If you are really strange you are always in enemy territory, and your constant concern is survival.
Richard Hugo

If you have to risk being overly sincere or being affected, be affected.
Richard Hugo

In the world of imagination, all things belong. If you take that on faith, you may be foolish, but foolish like a trout.
Richard Hugo

Self-acceptance through writing is no different than self-acceptance through time.
Richard Hugo

You trust to luck. You are not about to master your fate.
Richard Hugo

If that's too mythical a tone consider those who conform and know something's wrong and need a zany few who won't obey.
Richard Hugo

We never quite understand and we can’t quite explain.
Richard Hugo

When you write a poem these relations must reverse themselves. That is, the relation of the words to the subject must weaken and the relation of the words to the writer (you) must take on strength.
Richard Hugo

Never has your Buick / found this forward a gear.
Richard Hugo

Sources: wikipedia.org, wordpress.com, poets.org, poetryfoundation.org

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