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Philip Larkin Quotes

Powerful Philip Larkin for Daily Growth

About Philip Larkin

Philip Arthur Larkin (August 9, 1922 – December 4, 1985) was an influential British poet, novelist, librarian, and jazz aficionado. Born in Coventry, England, Larkin spent most of his life in the city of Hull where he studied English literature at the University and served as a university librarian for over three decades. Larkin's early work was heavily influenced by the Romantic poets, but his style later evolved into a distinctive modernist voice that reflected post-war Britain's social and cultural changes. He is best known for his poetry collections "The North Ship" (1945), "The Less Deceived" (1955), "The Whitsun Weddings" (1964), and "High Windows" (1974). His works often focused on themes of love, loss, mortality, and the passing of time. One of his most famous poems, "This Is a Photograph of Me," encapsulates Larkin's melancholic yet humorous perspective on life: "This is a photograph of me/ As a young man setting out for my career/ Possibly to write poetry although I didn't know it at the time." Larkin's private life was marked by his relationships with women, many of which remained unrequited. This emotional turmoil often surfaced in his work, as seen in "An Arundel Tomb," where he wrote, "What will survive of us is love." Despite his reserved personality and reclusive nature, Larkin played a significant role in the British literary scene during the mid-20th century. His honest and insightful poetry has left an indelible mark on modern literature, capturing the moods, fears, and joys of ordinary people in extraordinary ways.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Sunlight on a broken column"

The phrase "sunlight on a broken column" by Philip Larkin, though simple in structure, carries profound symbolism. A broken column, traditionally a symbol of fallen empires or decadence, can represent the passage of time, decay, or loss. Sunlight, conversely, is often associated with life, vitality, and rebirth. The juxtaposition of these two elements suggests a delicate balance between ruin and regeneration, decay and renewal, darkness and light - themes that are central to human existence and the cycle of life. It encourages us to find beauty in the broken and discarded, and hope in the face of adversity or change.

"What will survive of us is love."

This quote by Philip Larkin suggests that while physical presence and material possessions are temporary, the emotion and essence of love will endure beyond our lifetimes. Love, in this context, transcends death and persists as a lasting imprint on those who received it, serving as a testament to the connections we've formed during our lives. It implies that love is one of the few things capable of surviving time and leaving an indelible mark on humanity.

"At twenty I tried to drown my sorrow, Sorrow said she'd see me stuck down there like a stone."

This quote by Philip Larkin speaks metaphorically about one's attempt to escape from emotional pain (sorrow). The act of trying to "drown" symbolizes an unhealthy and futile attempt to flee from or suppress feelings of sorrow. However, the sorrow personified in this quote responds that it will keep the individual submerged, like a stone at the bottom of the water, implying that attempting to escape from one's emotions through destructive means is ultimately unsuccessful and leads to more suffering. This quote suggests the importance of confronting and dealing with emotions rather than trying to suppress or ignore them.

"I have not come to bury the novel, but to praise it."

The quote by Philip Larkin, "I have not come to bury the novel, but to praise it," is a play on words from Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," where a character says, "I have come to bury Caesar, not to praise him." Here, Larkin is not intending to criticize or dismiss the novel, as one might assume from the phrase, but rather to express his admiration and appreciation for the genre. Essentially, he's emphasizing the novel's enduring significance in literature and culture.

"Andromeda in her white nakedness"

The phrase "Andromeda in her white nakedness" from a poem by Philip Larkin is likely referring to the mythological character Andromeda, who was a princess condemned to be sacrificed as a punishment for her mother's arrogance. She was later rescued by the hero Perseus. In this context, "white nakedness" can symbolize purity and vulnerability, as Andromeda was bound to a rock to be consumed by a sea monster. The image evokes a sense of powerlessness and innocence, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for someone or something that is helpless in the face of overwhelming circumstances. Overall, the quote serves as a poignant reminder of human vulnerability and the struggle to overcome adversity.

Deprivation is for me what daffodils were for Wordsworth.

- Philip Larkin

Me, Were, Wordsworth, Deprivation

I can't understand these chaps who go round American universities explaining how they write poems: It's like going round explaining how you sleep with your wife.

- Philip Larkin

Wife, Like, Going, Chap

You can't put off being young until you retire.

- Philip Larkin

Young, Being, Until, Retire

Man hands on misery to man. It deepens like a coastal shelf. Get out as early as you can, and don't have any kids yourself.

- Philip Larkin

Hands, Like, Misery, Shelf

I wouldn't mind seeing China if I could come back the same day.

- Philip Larkin

Mind, Seeing, Same, If I Could

Above all, though, children are linked to adults by the simple fact that they are in process of turning into them. For this they may be forgiven much. Children are bound to be inferior to adults, or there is no incentive to grow up.

- Philip Larkin

Process, Grow, Fact, Incentive

I think writing about unhappiness is probably the source of my popularity, if I have any-after all, most people are unhappy, don't you think?

- Philip Larkin

Think, I Think, About, Popularity

They say eyes clear with age.

- Philip Larkin

Eyes, Say, Clear, They Say

Nothing, like something, happens anywhere.

- Philip Larkin

Nothing, Like, Anywhere, Happens

In everyone there sleeps. A sense of life lived according to love. To some it means the difference they could make. By loving others, but across most it sweeps. As all they might have done had they been loved. That nothing cures.

- Philip Larkin

Love, Some, Been, Sleeps

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