John Crowe Ransom quotes

And yet what is Modernism? It is undefined. (John Crowe Ransom)
And how can poetry stand up against its new conditions? Its position is perfectly precarious.
John Crowe Ransom
Now between the meanings of words and their sounds there is ordinarily no discoverable relation except one of accident; and it is therefore miraculous, to the mystic, when words which make sense can also make a uniform objective structure of accents and rhymes.
John Crowe Ransom
Till now poets were privileged to insert a certain proportion of nonsense - very far in excess of one-half of one per cent - into their otherwise sober documents.
John Crowe Ransom
And a wandering beauty is a blade out of its scabbard. You know how dangerous, gentlemen of threescore? May you know it yet ten more.
John Crowe Ransom
When critics are waiting to pounce upon poetic style on exactly the same grounds as if it were prose, the poets tremble.
John Crowe Ransom
Too much is demanded by the critic, attempted by the poet.
John Crowe Ransom
But we moderns are impatient and destructive.
John Crowe Ransom
It is a miracle of harmony, of the adaptation of the free inner life to the outward necessity of things.
John Crowe Ransom
For no art and no religion is possible until we make allowances, until we manage to keep quiet the enfant terrible of logic that plays havoc with the other faculties.
John Crowe Ransom
The arts generally have had to recognize Modernism - how should poetry escape? (John Crowe Ransom)
He can develop sense and style, in the manner of distinguished modern prose, in which event he may be sure that the result will not fall into any objective form.
John Crowe Ransom
Two evils, monstrous either one apart, Possessed me, and were long and loath at going: A cry of Absence, Absence, in the heart, And in the wood the furious winter blowing.
John Crowe Ransom
Their free verse was no form at all, yet it made history.
John Crowe Ransom
And weeping fast as she had breath Janet implored us, "Wake her from her sleep!" And would not be instructed in how deep Was the forgetful kingdom of death.
John Crowe Ransom
Or he can work it out as a metrical and formal exercise, but he will be disappointed in its content. The New Year's prospect fairly chills his daunting breast.
John Crowe Ransom
Here lies a lady.
John Crowe Ransom