John Ciardi

"Modern art is what happens when painters stop looking at girls and persuade themselves that they have a better idea."

"It is easy enough to praise men for the courage of their convictions. I wish I could teach the sad young of this mealy generation the courage of their confusions."

"Every parent is at some time the father of the unreturned prodigal, with nothing to do but keep his house open to hope."

"Every parent is at some time the father of the unreturned prodigal, with nothing to do but keep his house open to hope."

"A good question is never answered. It is not a bolt to be tightened into place but a seed to be planted and to bear more seed toward the hope of greening the landscape of idea."

"Intelligence recognizes what has happened. Genius recognizes what will happen."