A. E. Housman quotes

A. E. Housman was an English classical scholar and poet, best known for his collection "A Shropshire Lad." His poetry is celebrated for its melancholy tone, lyrical beauty, and reflections on loss and the passage of time. He influenced generations of poets and remains a significant figure in English literature. Here are 78 of his 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. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
A. E. Housman
In every American there is an air of incorrigible innocence, which seems to conceal a diabolical cunning. View quote
A. E. Housman
Nature, not content with denying to Mr - the faculty of thought, has endowed him with the faculty of writing. View quote
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. View quote
A. E. Housman
Three minutes' thought would suffice to find this out; but thought is irksome and three minutes is a long time. View quote
A. E. Housman
I find Cambridge an asylum, in every sense of the word. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
A. E. Housman
And malt does more than Milton can to justify God's ways to man. View quote
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. View quote
A. E. Housman
Loveliest of trees, the cherry now Is hung with bloom along the bough. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
A. E. Housman
There, by the starlit fences, The wanderer halts and hears My soul that lingers sighing About the glimmering weirs. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
A. E. Housman
Hope lies to mortals And most believe her, But man's deceiver Was never mine. View quote
A. E. Housman
Most men are rather stupid, and most of those who are not stupid are, consequently, rather vain. View quote
A. E. Housman