James Laughlin Quotes

A collection of quotes by James Laughlin.

James Laughlin (1914-1997) was an iconic American poet, publisher, and philanthropist. He is best known for founding the influential publishing house, New Directions, in 1936. Throughout his career, Laughlin championed groundbreaking literary figures such as Ezra Pound, William Carlos Williams, and Marianne Moore. He also left his mark as a poet, publishing several collections of his own work. Laughlin's commitment to publishing avant-garde and experimental voices revolutionized the American literary landscape, establishing him as a key figure in 20th-century literature. His enduring legacy continues to shape and inspire generations of writers and readers.

I think we will always have the impulse towards visual poetr

I think we will always have the impulse towards visual poetry with us, and I wouldn't agree with Bly that it's a bad thing. It depends on the ability of the individual poet to do it well, and to make a shape which is interesting enough to hold your attention.

There are numerous cases of that, where one of our writers d

There are numerous cases of that, where one of our writers discovers another writer whom he likes, and we then take that book on. So it's a very close relationship. We can do that because we're so small.

Concrete poets continue to turn out beautiful things, but to

Concrete poets continue to turn out beautiful things, but to me they're more visual than oral, and they almost really belong on the wall rather than in a book. I haven't the least idea of where poetry is going.

I think that is where poetry reading becomes such an individ

I think that is where poetry reading becomes such an individual thing. I mean I have friend who like poets who just don't say anything to me at all, I mean they seem to me rather ordinary and pedestrian.

Of course a poem is a two-way street. No poem is any good if

Of course a poem is a two-way street. No poem is any good if it doesn't suggest to the reader things from his own mind and recollection that he will read into it, and will add to what the poet has suggested. But I do think poetry readings are very important.

The one function that TV news performs very well is that whe

The one function that TV news performs very well is that when there is no news we give it to you with the same emphasis as if there were.

Then, of course, there are those sad occasions when a poet o

Then, of course, there are those sad occasions when a poet or a writer has not grown, and one has to let them go because they're just not making headway. But we have a very clear personal relationship with the authors.

We don't attempt to have any theme for a number of the antho

We don't attempt to have any theme for a number of the anthology, or to have any particular sequence. We just put in things that we like, and then we try to alternate the prose and the poetry.

I think there's no excuse for the American poetry reader not

I think there's no excuse for the American poetry reader not knowing a good deal about what is going on in the rest of the world.