John Drinkwater Quotes

A collection of quotes by John Drinkwater.

John Drinkwater (1882-1937) was an English poet, playwright, and critic known for his contributions to early 20th-century literature. Born on June 1, 1882, in Coventry, England, Drinkwater showed an early passion for writing and, despite a limited formal education, began composing poetry in his teenage years.

In 1907, Drinkwater's poetic talent gained recognition with the publication of his acclaimed collection, "Poems of Men and Hours." His verses were characterized by a deep concern for social and political issues of the time, often expressing a sense of patriotism and love for England.

Drinkwater's talent extended beyond poetry, as he also proved his skill in playwriting. His most notable work, "Abraham Lincoln: A Play," premiered in 1918 and achieved great success both in England and the United States. This historical drama explored the life of the iconic American President and garnered critical acclaim for its intelligent and moving portrayal.

Throughout his career, Drinkwater demonstrated a keen interest in artistic collaborations. He co-founded the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 1913, where he served as both a playwright and a producer. He also worked closely with famed actors and directors of the time, such as Sybil Thorndike and Barry Jackson.

Despite his early success, Drinkwater's popularity waned in the 1920s and 1930s, partly due to changing literary tastes. However, his impact on British poetry and theater remains significant. John Drinkwater passed away on March 25, 1937, leaving behind a rich legacy of thoughtful and evocative literary works.

A lyric, it is true, is the expression of personal emotion,

A lyric, it is true, is the expression of personal emotion, but then so is all poetry, and to suppose that there are several kinds of poetry, differing from each other in essence, is to be deceived by wholly artificial divisions which have no real being.

John Drinkwater


Poetry being the sign of that which all men desire, even tho

Poetry being the sign of that which all men desire, even though the desire be unconscious, intensity of life or completeness of experience, the universality of its appeal is a matter of course.

John Drinkwater

Poetry

But in the finished art of the song the use of words has no

But in the finished art of the song the use of words has no connection with the use of words in poetry.

John Drinkwater

Poetry

We recognise in the finished art, which is the result of the

We recognise in the finished art, which is the result of these conditions, the best words in the best order - poetry and to put this essential poetry into different classes is impossible.

John Drinkwater

Poetry

Poetry is the communication through words of certain experie

Poetry is the communication through words of certain experiences that can be communicated in no other way.

John Drinkwater

Communication

For while the subjects of poetry are few and recurrent, the

For while the subjects of poetry are few and recurrent, the moods of man are infinitely various and unstable. It is the same in all arts.

John Drinkwater

Poetry

There can be no proof that Blake's lyric is composed of the

There can be no proof that Blake's lyric is composed of the best words in the best order only a conviction, accepted by our knowledge and judgment, that it is so.

John Drinkwater

Knowledge

If it is an imperfect word, no external circumstance can hei

If it is an imperfect word, no external circumstance can heighten its value as poetry.

John Drinkwater

Poetry

So it is in poetry. All we ask is that the mood recorded sha

So it is in poetry. All we ask is that the mood recorded shall impress us as having been of the kind that exhausts the imaginative capacity if it fails to do this the failure will announce itself either in prose or in insignificant verse.

John Drinkwater

Failure

Any long work in which poetry is persistent, be it epic or d

Any long work in which poetry is persistent, be it epic or drama or narrative, is really a succession of separate poetic experiences governed into a related whole by an energy distinct from that which evoked them.

John Drinkwater

Poetry

It should here be added that poetry habitually takes the for

It should here be added that poetry habitually takes the form of verse.

John Drinkwater

Poetry

To know anything of a poet but his poetry is, so far as the

To know anything of a poet but his poetry is, so far as the poetry is concerned, to know something that may be entertaining, even delightful, but is certainly inessential.

John Drinkwater

Poetry

The musician - if he be a good one - finds his own perceptio

The musician - if he be a good one - finds his own perception prompted by the poet's perception, and he translates the expression of that perception from the terms of poetry into the terms of music.

John Drinkwater

Poetry