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Joseph Brodsky Quotes

American - Poet | May 24, 1940 - January 28, 1996

You cannot cover a ruin with a page of 'Pravda.'

You Page Ruin Cannot Cover

I wrote poems. That is my work. I am convinced... I believe that what I wrote will be useful to people not only now but in future generations.

Work Future I Am People Believe Now

Poems, novels - these things belong to the nation, to the culture, and the people.

Culture People Nation Belong Things

I belong to the Russian language. As to the state, from my point of view, the measure of a writer's patriotism is not oaths from a high platform, but how he writes in the language of the people among whom he lives.

Patriotism People Language View High

Although I am losing my Soviet citizenship, I do not cease to be a Russian poet.

I Am Losing Citizenship Poet Soviet

My poems getting published in Russia doesn't make me feel in any fashion, to tell you the truth. I'm not trying to be coy, but it doesn't tickle my ego.

Truth Me Fashion Ego Feel You

Reduced... to a crude formula, the Russian tragedy is precisely the tragedy of a society in which literature turned out to be the prerogative of the minority.

Society Literature Tragedy Out Which

By writing... in the language of his society, a poet takes a large step toward it. It is society's job to meet him halfway, that is, to open his book and read it.

Job Step Writing Society Book Meet

The charge frequently leveled against poetry - that it is difficult, obscure, hermetic and whatnot - indicates not the state of poetry but, frankly, the rung of the evolutionary ladder on which society is stuck.

Poetry Society Ladder Difficult Rung

In terms of freedom, America doesn't invite any comparison to Russia. It would be silly to make one. Every line that I care to write, I can have printed. There is no point to even talk about degrees.

Freedom Care America Silly I Can

A writer is seldom satisfied with the condition he finds himself in. We're all given to fretting a lot.

Satisfied Writer Seldom He Himself

I had been imprisoned three times and had twice been incarcerated in a madhouse.

Three Twice Been Imprisoned Had

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