My poetry is often criticized for a failure to communicate, but I take issue with this; my intention is to communicate and my feeling is that a poem that communicates something that’s already known by the reader is not really communicating anything to him and in fact shows a lack of respect for him.

— John Ashbery

John Ashbery Quotes

I tried each thing, only some were immortal and free.

— John Ashbery

Most reckless things are beautiful in some way, and recklessness is what makes experimental art beautiful, just as religions are beautiful because of the strong possibilities that they are founded on nothing.

— John Ashbery

Strong

What I like about music is its ability to be convincing, to carry an argument through successfully to the finish, though the terms of the argument remain unknown quantities.

— John Ashbery

Part of the strength of Pollock and Rothko’s art, in fact, is this doubt as to whether art may be there at all.

— John Ashbery

We might realize that the present moment may be one of an eternal or sempiternal series of moments, all of which will resemble it because, in some ways, they are the present, and won’t in other ways, because the present will be the past by that time.

— John Ashbery

What is the past, what is it all for? A mental sandwich?

— John Ashbery

The mind Is so hospitable, taking in everything Like boarders, and you don’t see until It’s all over how little there was to learn Once the stench of knowledge has dissipated.

— John Ashbery

A perfect example of the new republic’s urge to drape itself with the togas of classical respectability.

— John Ashbery

Try a little subtlety in self-defense; it’ll help, you’ll find out.

— John Ashbery

Ambiguity supposes eventual resolution of itself whereas certitude implies further ambiguity.

— John Ashbery

Walter Pater said that all the arts aspire to the condition of music, but I’ve always felt that music aspires to the condition of words.

— John Ashbery

My poetry is often criticized for a failure to communicate, but I take issue with this; my intention is to communicate and my feeling is that a poem that communicates something that’s already known by the reader is not really communicating anything to him and in fact shows a lack of respect for him.

— John Ashbery

Transgress. In a word, be other than yourself in turning into your love-soaked opposite.

— John Ashbery

I could have made a casserole out of these things, but you always say you like to know what you’re eating.

— John Ashbery

You have to try to imagine an ideal reader, who’s neither stupid nor able to know what your thoughts are.

— John Ashbery

It’s important to try to write when you are in the wrong mood or when the weather is wrong.

— John Ashbery

Darkness fell like a wet sponge.

— John Ashbery

There are good times in everybody’s satchel, nor do we all get a free pass. That would be a split decision, as they call it. How else is the planned brotherhood to float forward?

— John Ashbery

I thought that if I could put it all down, that would be one way. And next the thought came to me that to leave all out would be another, and truer, way.

— John Ashbery

I am often asked why I write, and I don’t know really – I just like it.” – John Ashbery.

— John Ashbery

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