A. E. Housman quotes

Even when poetry has a meaning, as it usually has, it may be inadvisable to draw it out ... and perfect understanding will sometimes almost extinguish pleasure. (A. E. Housman)
The house of delusions is cheap to build, but draughty to live in, and ready at any instant to fall.
A. E. Housman
The troubles of our proud and angry dust Are from eternity, and shall not fail. Bear them we can, and if we can we must. Shoulder the sky, my lad, and drink your ale.
A. E. Housman
Who made the world I cannot tell; 'Tis made, and here am I in hell. My hand, though now my knuckles bleed, I never soiled with such a deed.
A. E. Housman
Here dead we lie because we did not choose To live and shame the land from which we sprung. Life, to be sure, is nothing much to lose; But young men think it is, and we were young.
A. E. Housman
In every American there is an air of incorrigible innocence, which seems to conceal a diabolical cunning.
A. E. Housman
Nature, not content with denying to Mr - the faculty of thought, has endowed him with the faculty of writing.
A. E. Housman
The laws of God, the laws of man he may keep that will and can; not I: let God and man decree laws for themselves and not for me.
A. E. Housman
Three minutes' thought would suffice to find this out; but thought is irksome and three minutes is a long time.
A. E. Housman
I find Cambridge an asylum, in every sense of the word.
A. E. Housman
Clay lies still, but blood's a rover; Breath's a ware that will not keep. Up, lad: when the journey's over There'll be time enough to sleep. (A. E. Housman)
Oh who is that young sinner with the handcuffs on his wrists? And what has he been after that they groan and shake their fists? And wherefore is he wearing such a conscience-stricken air? Oh they're taking him to prison for the colour of his hair.
A. E. Housman
They carry back bright to the coiner the mintage of man,The lads that will die in their glory and never be old.
A. E. Housman
And malt does more than Milton can to justify God's ways to man.
A. E. Housman
To be a textual critic requires aptitude for thinking and willingness to think; and though it also requires other things, those things are supplements and cannot be substitutes. Knowledge is good, method is good, but one thing beyond all others is necessary; and that is to have a head, not a pumpkin, on your shoulders and brains, not pudding, in your head.
A. E. Housman
Loveliest of trees, the cherry now Is hung with bloom along the bough.
A. E. Housman
My heart always warms to people who do not come to see me, especially Americans, to whom it seems to be more of an effort.
A. E. Housman
Happy bridegroom, Hesper brings All desired and timely things. All whom morning sends to roam, Hesper loves to lead them home. Home return who him behold, Child to mother, sheep to fold, Bird to nest from wandering wide: Happy bridegroom, seek your bride.
A. E. Housman
The bells they sound on Bredon And still the steeples hum. "Come all to church, good people," - Oh, noisy bells, be dumb; I hear you, I will come.
A. E. Housman
There, by the starlit fences, The wanderer halts and hears My soul that lingers sighing About the glimmering weirs.
A. E. Housman
Into my heart an air that kills From yon far country blows: What are those blue remembered hills, What spires, what farms are those? That is the land of lost content, I see it shining plain, The happy highways where I went And cannot come again. (A. E. Housman)
Could man be drunk for ever With liquor, love, or fights, Lief should I rouse at mornings And lief lie down of nights. But men at whiles are sober And think by fits and starts, And if they think, they fasten Their hands upon their hearts.
A. E. Housman
Oh, when I was in love with you Then I was clean and brave, And miles around the wonder grew How well did I behave. And now the fancy passes by And nothing will remain, And miles around they'll say that I Am quite myself again.
A. E. Housman
Hope lies to mortals And most believe her, But man's deceiver Was never mine.
A. E. Housman
Most men are rather stupid, and most of those who are not stupid are, consequently, rather vain.
A. E. Housman