A Certain World Quotes

“As readers, we remain in the nursery stage so long as we cannot distinguish between taste and judgment, so long, that is, as the only possible verdicts we can pass on a book are two: this I like; this I don't like.
For an adult reader, the possible verdicts are five: I can see this is good and I like it; I can see this is good but I don't like it; I can see this is good and, though at present I don't like it, I believe that with perseverance I shall come to like it; I can see that this is trash but I like it; I can see that this is trash and I don't like it.”
― W.H. Auden, A Certain World: A Commonplace Book

“The slogan of Hell: Eat or be eaten. The slogan of Heaven: Eat and be eaten.”
― W.H. Auden, A Certain World: A Commonplace Book

“Like everyone else, I have my black list of unfavorite authors and critics, and among intimate friends I sometimes say exactly what I think of them, but I have the feeling that to express my opinions publicly would be in bad taste, that, to people whom one does not know personally, one should speak only of the authors and critics one is fond of. I find reading savage reviews like reading pornography; though I often enjoy them, I feel a bit ashamed of myself for doing so. Still, I must admit that I find Nietzsche's list of his "impracticals" great fun.”
― W.H. Auden, A Certain World: A Commonplace Book

“Thoughts on his own death, like the distant roll of thunder at a picnic.”
― W. H. Auden, A Certain World: A Commonplace Book