Lawrence Ferlinghetti

"“Poetry is a naked woman, a naked man, and the distance between them.”"

"“Poetry is eternal graffiti written in the heart of everyone.”"

"“Poetry is the shadow cast by our streetlight imaginations.”"

"If you're too open-minded; your brains will fall out."

"Freedom of speech is always under attack by Fascist mentality, which exists in all parts of the world, unfortunately."

"I think if there's a great depression there might be some hope."

"Poetry is eternal graffiti written in the heart of everyone."

"Poetry is the shadow cast by our streetlight imaginations."

"Pity the nation whose people are sheep,and whose shepherds mislead them. Pity the nation whose leaders are liars, whose sages are silenced,and whose bigots haunt the airwaves. Pity the nation that raises not its voice,except to praise conquerors and acclaim the bully as heroand aims to rule the world with force and by torture. Pity the nation that knows no other language but its ownand no other culture but its own. Pity the nation whose breath is moneyand sleeps the sleep of the too well fed. Pity the nation — oh, pity the people who allow their rights to erodeand their freedoms to be washed away. My country, tears of thee, sweet land of liberty."

"I didn’t know that painters and writers retired. They’re like soldiers – they just fade away."

"If you're too open-minded your brains will fall out."

"Don't patronize the chain bookstores. Every time I see some author scheduled to read and sign his books at a chain bookstore, I feel like telling him he's stabbing the independent bookstores in the back."

"See it was like this when we waltz into this place. A couple of papish cats is doing an Aztec two-step And I says Dad let's cutbut then this dame comes up behind me see and says you and me could really exist Wow I says Only the next day she has bad teeth and really hates poetry."

"I am awaitingperpetually and forevera renaissance of wonder"

"Poetry is the shadow cast by our streetlight imaginations."

"Recipe For Happiness Khaborovsk Or Anyplace'One grand boulevard with treeswith one grand cafe in sunwith strong black coffee in very small cups. One not necessarily very beautifulman or woman who loves you. One fine day."