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I suppose the desire for publication is a normal part of the instinct for writing... the writer sits at home, and the mere fact of being printed provides his verses with a kind of audience... So, having his vanity partially satisfied, he can go ahead and try better work.

— Robinson Jeffers Letter to a group of Occidental College students (1955)

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More quotes by Robinson Jeffers

I have seen these ways of God: I know of no reason
For fire and change and torture and the old returnings.

Corruption never has been compulsory; when the cities lie at the monster's feet there are left the mountains.

At least Love your eyes that can see, your mind that can
Hear the music, the thunder of the wings. Love the wild swan.

Love the Wild Swan (1935)

Know that however ugly the parts appear
the whole remains beautiful.

The Answer (1936)

Reason will not decide at last; the sword will decide.
The sword: an obsolete instrument of bronze or steel,
formerly used to kill men, but here
In the sense of a symbol.

Contemplation of The Sword (1938)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Robinson Jeffers (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.