If a man means his writing seriously, he must mean to write well. But how can he write well until he learns to see what he has written badly. His progress toward good writing and his recognition of bad writing… — John Ciardi Copy Share Image
Tell me how much a nation knows about its own language, and I will tell you how much that nation knows about its own… — John Ciardi Copy Share
Modern art is what happens when painters stop looking at girls and persuade themselves that they have a better idea. — John Ciardi Copy Share
But when the pen is in his hand he has to write by itch and twitch, though certainly his itch and twitch are intimately… — John Ciardi Copy Share
Who could believe an ant in theory? A giraffe in blueprint? Ten thousand doctors of what's possible Could reason half the jungle out of… — John Ciardi Copy Share
“There was a young lady from Gloucester Who complained that her parents both bossed her, So she ran off to Maine. Did her parents… — John Ciardi Copy Share
One night I dreamed I was locked in my Father's watch With Ptolemy and twenty-one ruby stars Mounted on spheres and the Primum Mobile… — John Ciardi Copy Share
Boys are the cash of war. Whoever said: we're not free spenders- doesn't know our like. — John Ciardi Copy Share
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… — John Ciardi Copy Share
