The Greek tragic mask is one of my main metaphors for the role of the poet. The eyes of the tragic mask are always open to witness even the worst, and the mouth is always open to make poetry from… — Tony Harrison Copy Share Image
For me, there is a paradox in poetry, which is like the paradox in tragedy. You have the most terrible subject, but it's in… — Tony Harrison Copy Share Image
Why shouldn't poetry address what happened yesterday and be published in the newspaper? — Tony Harrison Copy Share Image
I love being on the road with others, with a camera, but also being alone writing poetry. — Tony Harrison Copy Share Image
“Smokers of the world unite! On t'count o' three, all light up, right? 1-2-3... You've all been cowed. I've changed the law and it's… — Tony Harrison Copy Share Image
A lot of my activity in the theatre, and even in writing poems, was a kind of retrospective aggro on the English teacher who… — Tony Harrison Copy Share Image
I hate the anglicanisation of culture, the idea that culture is genteel. It's not genteel. — Tony Harrison Copy Share Image
Not becoming 'something' scares me the most. I just want to be remembered for something great. — Tony Harrison Copy Share Image
I think it's the tendency to want to create gods and monotheistic absolutes and absolute certainties that is the continual temptation in human thought… — Tony Harrison Copy Share Image
There's a kind of despair about whether art can really do anything, but you have to incorporate that despair into the way you work.… — Tony Harrison Copy Share Image
I really admire the great Japanese artists who could change their name three times in a lifetime. You could get rid of one and… — Tony Harrison Copy Share Image
