Seamus Heaney
Irish Nobel laureate poet.
6 quotes in this collection. Read them below, share your favourites, or follow the related links to explore similar voices.
All quotes by Seamus Heaney
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“Poetry is what happens when nothing else can.”
Meaning: Poetry captures emotions and truths that cannot be expressed through ordinary language. -
“Walk on air against your better judgment.”
Meaning: This quote encourages taking imaginative or hopeful risks, even when logic advises caution. It celebrates intuition and creative courage. -
“If you have the words, there's always a chance that you'll find the way.”
Meaning: Heaney suggests that expression and communication can help navigate challenges. Language allows clarity, problem-solving, and connection. -
“Believe that a further shore is reachable from here.”
Meaning: He encourages hope and faith in progress, even when the future seems uncertain. -
“Between my finger and my thumb the squat pen rests; snug as a gun.”
Meaning: Heaney compares writing to power, suggesting that words can be as impactful as weapons. Writing is a tool of influence and legacy. -
“The way we are living, timorous or bold, will have been our life.”
Meaning: Life is defined by how we choose to live it—fearfully or courageously.