What has any poet to trust more than the feel of the thing? Theory concerns him only until he picks up his pen, and it begins to concern him again as soon as he lays it down. – John Ciardi
Love is the word used to label the sexual excitement of the young, the habituation of the middle-aged, and the mutual dependence of the old. – John Ciardi
A neighborhood is a residential area that is changing for the worse. – John Ciardi
No matter what message you are about to deliver somewhere, whether it is holding out a hand of friendship, or making clear that you disapprove of something, is the fact that the person sitting across the table is a human being, so the goal is to always establish common ground. – Madeleine Albright