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Murder is unique in that it abolishes the party it injures, so that society has to take the place of the victim and on his behalf demand atonement or grant forgiveness it is the one crime in which society has a direct interest.
W. H. Auden
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W. H. Auden
Age: 66 †
Born: 1907
Born: February 21
Died: 1973
Died: September 28
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Jórvík
Wystan Hugh Auden
Wystan Auden
Wystan H Auden
W. H. Wystan Hugh Auden
Crime
Behalf
Party
Grants
Interest
Forgiveness
Society
Murder
Abolishes
Place
Victim
Injures
Take
Demand
Atonement
Unique
Abolish
Direct
Grant
More quotes by W. H. Auden
May it not be that, just as we have to have faith in Him, God has to have faith in us and, considering the history of the human race so far, may it not be that 'faith' is even more difficult for Him than it is for us?
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You owe it to all of us all get on with what you're good at.
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Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone. Silence the pianos and with muffled drum Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
W. H. Auden
No good opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible.
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See without looking, hear without listening, breathe without asking.
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The slogan of Hell: Eat or be eaten. The slogan of Heaven: Eat and be eaten.
W. H. Auden
Thou shalt not answer questionnaires Or quizzes upon world affairs, Nor with compliance Take any test. Thou shalt not sit with statisticians nor commit A social science.
W. H. Auden
Nobody is ever sent to Hell: he or she insists on going there.
W. H. Auden
The desires of the heart are as crooked as corkscrews Not to be born is the best for man The second best is a formal order The dance's pattern, dance while you can. Dance, dance, for the figure is easy The tune is catching and will not stop Dance till the stars come down from the rafters Dance, dance, dance till you drop.
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The sky is darkening like a stain Something is going to fall like rain And it won't be flowers
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Time will say nothing but I told you so, Time only knows the price we have to pay If I could tell you I would let you know.
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In life the loser's score is always zero.
W. H. Auden
Men will pay large sums to whores for telling them they are not bores.
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We were put on this earth to make things.
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Of all possible subjects, travel is the most difficult for an artist, as it is the easiest for a journalist.
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The only reason the Protestants and Catholics have given up the idea of universal domination is because they've realised they can't get away with it.
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The only way to spend New Year's Eve is either quietly with friends or in a brothel. Otherwise when the evening ends and people pair off, someone is bound to be left in tears.
W. H. Auden
No human being is innocent, but there is a class of innocent human actions called Games.
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Of course, Behaviourism 'works'. So does torture. Give me a no-nonsense, down-to-earth behaviourist, a few drugs, and simple electrical appliances, and in six months I will have him reciting the Athanasian Creed in public.
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There are good books which are only for adults. There are no good books which are only for children.
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