Edwin Muir

Poet, Novelist

Edwin Muir was a Scottish poet and novelist known for his profound exploration of human experience and nature, particularly in works like 'The Story and the Fable.'

Born
May 15, 1887
Died
January 3, 1959
Quotes
12
Rank
#1480

About Edwin Muir

Edwin Muir — Life and Legacy

Edwin Muir was a significant Scottish poet and novelist whose work delves into the intricacies of human experience and the natural world. His notable contributions include 'The Story and the Fable,' where he examines the relationship between humanity and nature, often highlighting the tension and struggle inherent in this connection. Muir's poetry reflects a deep psychological insight into the human condition, as seen in his poignant lines that explore themes of suffering, aspiration, and redemption. One of Muir's key ideas is encapsulated in his quote, 'We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.' This statement illustrates his belief that, despite life's hardships, there exists a choice to seek beauty and hope. His exploration of nature often reveals its duality—both nurturing and destructive—challenging readers to confront their own relationship with the environment. Muir's work is marked by a profound understanding of the human psyche, as he navigates the contradictions of existence. Today, Muir's quotes resonate with readers who grapple with their own struggles and aspirations, reminding us of the enduring connection between humanity and the natural world. His insights continue to inspire reflection on our place in the universe and the choices we make in the face of adversity.

Quote collection

Edwin Muir quotes

12 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Edwin Muir Poet, Novelist
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"Dostoyevsky wrote of the unconscious as if it were conscious; that is in reality the reason why his characters seem 'pathological', while they are only visualized more clearly than any other figures in imaginative literature... He was in the rank in which we set Dante, Shakespeare and Goethe."

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Edwin Muir Poet, Novelist
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"And without fear the lawless roads Ran wrong through all the land."

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Edwin Muir Poet, Novelist
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"Kindness and courage can repair time's faults, And serving him breeds patience and courtesy In us, light sojourners and passing subjects."

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"The ancestral deed is thought and done, And in a million Edens fall A million Adams drowned in darkness, For small is great and great is small, And a blind seed all."

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"The curse of Scottish literature is the lack of a whole language, which finally means the lack of a whole mind."

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"There is a road that turning always Cuts off the country of Again. Archers stand there on every side And as it runstime's deer is slain, And lies where it has lain."

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Edwin Muir Poet, Novelist
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"We meet ourselves at every turn In the long country of the past."

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"I have observed in foolish awe The dateless mid-days of the law And seen indifferent justice done By everyone on everyone."

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"Packed in my skin from head to toe is one I know and do not know."

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"Sometimes we think of the nations lying asleep, Curled blindly in impenetrable sorrow, And then the thought confounds us with its strangeness."

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"See him, the gentle Bible beast, / With lacquered hoofs and curling mane, / His wondering journey from the East / Half done, between the rock and plain."

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