Louis Dudek Quotes

In a poem, the words happen; they just come. I let them. Otherwise, I wouldn't write. To interfere with what is happening is to distort the poem. Just a very small degree of intelligence and supervision is necessary. Very tactful. Any revision later that violates the text as it came, that begins rewriting the words, is fake.

- Louis Dudek

The philistine provides the best definition of art. Anything that makes him rage is first class.

- Louis Dudek

The residue of religion in my work appears as a modified transcendentalism, and the positivist scientific side of my thought appears as concreteness and realism. The effort to reconcile the two is at the core of all my poetry.

- Louis Dudek

The long poem cannot be a digressive, expansive, boring exposition. It is really made of very sharp, Imagistic, quintessential poetic elements.

- Louis Dudek

There are two kinds of people; those who are always well and those who are always sick. Most of the evils of the world come from the first sort and most of the achievement from the second.

- Louis Dudek

What is forgiven is usually well remembered.

- Louis Dudek

The best live among us in disguise.

- Louis Dudek

Art is anything people do with distinction.

- Louis Dudek