William Butler Yeats Quotes

O would, beloved, that you lay Under the dock-leaves in the ground, While lights were paling one by one.

Style personality - deliberately adopted and therefore a mask - is the only escape from the hot-faced bargainers and money-changers.

The best lack all conviction while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.

Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.

Too long a sacrifice Can make a stone of the heart.

Joy is the will which labours which overcomes obstacles which knows triumph.

The intellect of man is forced to choose Perfection of the life or of the work.

Joy is the will which labors which overcomes obstacles which knows triumph.

Wine comes in at the mouth and love comes in at the eye that's all we shall know for truth before we grow old and die.

Only that which does not teach which does not cry out which does not condescend which does not explain is irresistible.

All empty souls tend to extreme opinion.

Of our conflicts with others we make rhetoric of our conflicts with ourselves we make poetry.

A statesman is an easy man He tells his lies by rote A journalist makes up his lies And takes you by the throat So stay at home and drink your beer And let the neighbours vote.

Be secret and exult Because of all things known That is most difficult.

Florence Farr once said to me "If we could say to ourselves with sincerity 'this passing moment is as good as any I shall ever know ' we could die upon the instant and be united with God."

She bid me take love easy as the leaves grow on the tree But I being young and foolish with her would not agree.

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

Wine comes in at the mouth And love comes in at the eye That's all we shall know for truth Before we grow old and die.

There are no strangers here Only friends you haven't yet met.

Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot but make it hot by striking.