"Snooki is a bestselling author? Huh? What? I don't know if I should dumb down my book, shoot myself or find a publisher who'll settle for a rough draft written on a Pop-Tart and a coconut lotion handie."
About Geoffrey Hill
Geoffrey Hill — Life and Legacy
Geoffrey Hill, a prominent British poet, is celebrated for his intricate engagement with language and identity. His notable work, 'Mercian Hymns,' reflects a deep understanding of how language shapes human experience, often intertwining personal and historical narratives. Hill's poetry is marked by a distinctive style that challenges conventional forms, pushing the boundaries of what poetry can express. In his exploration of identity, Hill often grapples with the tension between the individual and the collective. His assertion that 'language is a form of life' encapsulates his belief in the profound impact of words on our understanding of self and society. This idea is evident in quotes that reveal the complexities of identity, as Hill navigates the intricate layers of personal and cultural history. The relevance of Hill's work endures, as his quotes continue to resonate with readers seeking to understand the nuances of their own identities. His ability to articulate the struggles of defining oneself in a multifaceted world remains a powerful influence on contemporary poetry.
Quote collection
Geoffrey Hill quotes
12 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"I think art has a right — not an obligation — to be difficult if it wishes. And, since people generally go on from this to talk about elitism versus democracy, I would add that genuinely difficult art is truly democratic."
"We are difficult. Human beings are difficult. We're difficult to ourselves, we're difficult to each other. And we are mysteries to ourselves, we are mysteries to each other. One encounters in any ordinary day far more real difficulty than one confronts in the most “intellectual” piece of work. Why is it believed that poetry, prose, painting, music should be less than we are? Why does music, why does poetry have to address us in simplified terms, when if such simplification were applied to a description of our own inner selves we would find it demeaning?"
"... one of the things the tyrant most cunningly engineers is the gross over-simplification of language, because propaganda requires that the minds of the collective respond primitively to slogans of incitement."
"Public toilets have a duty to be accessible, poetry does not."
"September fattens on vines. Roses flake from the wall. The smoke of harmless fires drifts to my eyes. This is plenty. This is more than enough."
"Dig -- the mostly uncouth -- language of grace."
"Platonic England, house of solitudes, rests in its laurels and its injured stone"
"As estimated, you died. Things marched, sufficient, to that end. Just so much Zyklon and leather, patented terror, so many routine cries."
"Thus I grind to conclusion."
"Autumn resumes the land, ruffles the woods with smoky wings, entangles them."
"We are difficult. Human beings are difficult. We’re difficult to ourselves, we’re difficult to each other."