By failing to read or listen to poets, society dooms itself to inferior modes of articulation, those of the politician, the salesman, or the charlatan. In other words, it forfeits its own evolutionary potential. For what distinguishes us from the rest of the animal kingdom is precisely the gift of speech. Poetry is not a form of entertainment and in a certain sense not even a form of art, but it is our anthropological, genetic goal. Our evolutionary, linguistic beacon. ✨ Joseph Brodsky's opening remarks as United States Poet Laureate, October 1991.
More Author Quotes
- What should I say about life? That it's long and abhors transparence. ✨ Joseph Brodsky, May 24, 1980
- After all, it is hard to master both life and work equally well. So if you are bound to fake one of them, it had better be life. ✨ Joseph Brodsky, Cynthia L. Haven (2002). Joseph Brodsky: Conversatio … ▶
- How delightful to find a friend in everyone.
- Boredom is your window on the properties of time that one tends to ignore to the likely peril of one's mental equilibrium. It is your window on time's infinity. Once this window opens, don't try to s … ▶
- Cherish your human connections: your relationships with friends and family. Even your super weirdo creep cousin.
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