Quotes by William Butler Yeats

Explore a curated collection of 50 quotes by William Butler Yeats. Discover timeless wisdom, insightful thoughts, and memorable words that have inspired readers around the world. Browse through the gallery below and click on any quote to read more.

Style personality - deliberately adopted and therefore a mask - is the only escape from the hot-faced bargainers and mo — William Butler Yeats
The best lack all conviction while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. — William Butler Yeats
The worst thing about some men is that when they are not drunk they are sober. — William Butler Yeats
Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire. — William Butler Yeats
No man has ever lived that had enough of children's gratitude or woman's love. — William Butler Yeats
Too long a sacrifice Can make a stone of the heart. — William Butler Yeats
Joy is the will which labours which overcomes obstacles which knows triumph. — William Butler Yeats
People who lean on logic and philosophy and rational exposition end by starving the best part of the mind. — William Butler Yeats
The intellect of man is forced to choose Perfection of the life or of the work. — William Butler Yeats
Life is a long preparation for something that never happens. — William Butler Yeats
Joy is the will which labors which overcomes obstacles which knows triumph. — William Butler Yeats
Wine comes in at the mouth and love comes in at the eye that's all we shall know for truth before we grow old and die. — William Butler Yeats
Only that which does not teach which does not cry out which does not condescend which does not explain is irresistib — William Butler Yeats
All empty souls tend to extreme opinion. — William Butler Yeats
Of our conflicts with others we make rhetoric of our conflicts with ourselves we make poetry. — William Butler Yeats
A statesman is an easy man He tells his lies by rote A journalist makes up his lies And takes you by the throat So st — William Butler Yeats
Be secret and exult Because of all things known That is most difficult. — William Butler Yeats
Florence Farr once said to me "If we could say to ourselves with sincerity 'this passing moment is as good as any I s — William Butler Yeats
She bid me take love easy as the leaves grow on the tree But I being young and foolish with her would not agree. — William Butler Yeats
The only business of the head in the world is to bow a ceaseless obeisance to the heart. — William Butler Yeats