Quote

We are not commanded (or forbidden) to love our mates, our children, our friends, our country because such affections come naturally to us and are good in themselves, although we may corrupt them. We are commanded to love our neighbor because our natural attitude toward the other is one of either indifference or hostility.

W. H. Auden

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W. H. Auden
Age: 66 †
Born: 1907
Born: February 21
Died: 1973
Died: September 28
Author
Composer
Essayist
Librettist
Literary Critic
Literary Historian
Playwright
Poet
Screenwriter
University Teacher
Writer
Jórvík
Wystan Hugh Auden
Wystan Auden
Wystan H Auden
W. H. Wystan Hugh Auden
Come
Neighbor
Affections
Country
Although
Hostility
Children
Toward
Corrupt
Good
Attitude
Mates
Love
Either
Forbidden
Friends
Indifference
Natural
Naturally
May
Affection
Commanded

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Long ago the accusations had begun, And suddenly knew by whom it had been judged
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Composing mortals with immortal fire.
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Lost in a haunted wood, Children afraid of the night Who have never been happy or good.
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Dance till the stars come down from the rafters Dance, Dance, Dance 'till you drop.
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Machines are beneficial to the degree that they eliminate the need for labor, harmful to the degree that they eliminate the need for skill.
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Be subtle, various, ornamental, clever, And do not listen to those critics ever Whose crude provincial gullets crave in books Plain cooking made still plainer by plain cooks.
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