Robert Graves Quotes

Powerful Robert Graves for Daily Growth

About Robert Graves

Robert Graves (July 16, 1895 – December 7, 1985) was an esteemed English poet, novelist, critic, and scholar, best known for his work "Goodbye to All That" and the epic poem series "The White Goddess." Born in Wimbledon, London, Graves spent much of his early life in Spain, where he developed a deep fascination with Celtic mythology, Spanish culture, and classical literature. Graves served as an officer during World War I, experiencing the horrors of trench warfare, which later influenced his writings, particularly "Goodbye to All That," an autobiographical account of his time in the army. After the war, he settled in England and began publishing poetry collections, such as "Fairies and Fusiliers" (1917) and "Over the Brazier" (1924). Graves's interest in mythology led to the publication of "The White Goddess: A Historical Grammar of Poetic Mythology" (1948), a seminal work that explores the connections between poetry, ancient gods, and fertility. The book combined Graves's academic research with personal insights gained from his experiences as a poet. In addition to his literary accomplishments, Graves also translated numerous works from Latin, Greek, and Spanish. His translations of "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam" (1920) and "King Lear" (1948) are highly regarded. He also penned a popular series of children's books, "Count Belisarius," which combined history, mythology, and adventure. Throughout his life, Graves was deeply influenced by the works of poets such as John Keats, William Butler Yeats, and T.S. Eliot, and he remains an important figure in English literature, known for his versatility across various genres and his profound exploration of mythology and war's impact on the human spirit.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I am a man who has lived in other men's minds and been nourished by the thoughts of the great ones."

This quote by Robert Graves suggests that he has experienced life through others' perspectives, deriving nourishment from their profound ideas. It implies a strong intellectual curiosity, a desire to learn from and connect with the thoughts of notable individuals. In essence, it speaks to the human capacity for empathy and the pursuit of wisdom by immersing oneself in the minds of great thinkers.

"It is a fine thing to be honest, but it is also very important to be right."

Robert Graves' quote emphasizes the importance of not only adhering to moral principles (being honest) but also being correct in one's beliefs or actions. Being truthful does not necessarily guarantee that one's statements or decisions are accurate, so it is essential to strive for both honesty and accuracy to ensure sound judgment and wise decision-making.

"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

This quote by Robert Graves suggests that there's no magic formula for achieving success; rather, it is a culmination of diligent preparation, consistent effort, and valuable lessons derived from mistakes or setbacks (failures). In essence, the path to success lies in investing time in learning and skill-building, putting in the necessary hard work, and being open to growth through experiences.

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do."

This quote by Robert Graves emphasizes that true excellence, or "doing great work," can only be achieved when one has a deep and genuine passion for their endeavor. Love, in this context, refers to a strong affection or enthusiasm for the task at hand. By loving what you do, you're more likely to put forth your best efforts, remain dedicated, and find personal fulfillment in your work. This alignment of passion with purpose is essential to producing outstanding results.

"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others, at whatever cost."

This quote by Robert Graves emphasizes that true heroism lies in selfless service to others, rather than seeking personal glory or superiority. The hero is one who puts the needs of others before their own, even if it requires sacrifice. This notion of heroism is quiet, humble and undramatic as it shuns the limelight, prioritizing the wellbeing of others over personal ambition.

Prose books are the show dogs I breed and sell to support my cat.

- Robert Graves

Sell, Prose, Books, Breed

Marriage, like money, is still with us; and, like money, progressively devalued.

- Robert Graves

Marriage, Money, Still, Devalued

In love as in sport, the amateur status must be strictly maintained.

- Robert Graves

Love, Must, Amateur, Maintained

If I were a girl, I'd despair. The supply of good women far exceeds that of the men who deserve them.

- Robert Graves

Girl, Deserve, Them, Despair

A well chosen anthology is a complete dispensary of medicine for the more common mental disorders, and may be used as much for prevention as cure.

- Robert Graves

Medicine, More, May, Anthology

Anthropologists are a connecting link between poets and scientists; though their field-work among primitive peoples has often made them forget the language of science.

- Robert Graves

Made, Primitive, Though, Connecting

One gets to the heart of the matter by a series of experiences in the same pattern, but in different colors.

- Robert Graves

Pattern, Same, Series, Different Colors

The remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that he really is very good, in spite of all the people who say he is very good.

- Robert Graves

Say, Very, About, Shakespeare

A remarkable thing about Shakespeare is that he is really very good in spite of all the people who say he is very good.

- Robert Graves

Say, Very, About, Shakespeare

Genius not only diagnoses the situation but supplies the answers.

- Robert Graves

Genius, Answers, Only, Supplies

What we now call 'finance' is, I hold, an intellectual perversion of what began as warm human love.

- Robert Graves

Love, Warm, Call, Perversion

Never use the word 'audience.' The very idea of a public, unless the poet is writing for money, seems wrong to me. Poets don't have an 'audience'. They're talking to a single person all the time.

- Robert Graves

Audience, Very, Use, Poets

If there's no money in poetry, neither is there poetry in money.

- Robert Graves

Money, Poetry, Neither

To be a poet is a condition rather than a profession.

- Robert Graves

Condition, Profession, Than, Poet

There's no money in poetry, but then there's no poetry in money, either.

- Robert Graves

Money, Either, Then, Poetry

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