Quotes from Joseph Brodsky

A writer is defined by the language in which he writes, and I would stick to that definition.

I belong to the Russian language. As to the state, from my point of view, the measure of a writer's patriotism is not oaths from a high platform, but how he writes in the language of the people among whom he lives.

By writing... in the language of his society, a poet takes a large step toward it. It is society's job to meet him halfway, that is, to open his book and read it.

Unfortunately, a human being is able to comprehend only that amount of evil which he is able to commit himself.

I wrote poems. That is my work. I am convinced... I believe that what I wrote will be useful to people not only now but in future generations.

Poetry is not only the most concise way of conveying the human experience; it also offers the highest possible standards for any linguistic operation.

It is not just shameful for a contemporary American poet to use rhymes, it is unthinkable. It seems banal to him; he fears banality worse than anything, and therefore, he uses free verse - though free verse is no guarantee against banality.

Perhaps the best proof of the Almighty's existence is that we never know when we are to die.

Unlike life, a work of art never gets taken for granted: it is always viewed against its precursors and predecessors.

Life, the way it really is, is a battle not between Bad and Good but between Bad and Worse.