Never such innocence, Never before or since, As changed itself to past Without a word--the men Leaving the gardens tidy, The thousands of marriages Lasting a little while longer: Never such innocence again.
Philip LarkinRead
I am always trying to 'preserve' things by getting other people to read what I have written, and feel what I felt.
Interpretation
The quote expresses the desire for one's experiences and emotions to be shared and understood by others through writing.
In this quote, Philip Larkin emphasizes the importance of writing as a means to capture and preserve personal experiences and emotions. He seeks to connect with others by inviting them to engage with his words, allowing them to feel the sentiments he felt, thus creating a shared understanding and appreciation of life's moments.
In practice
In a literary discussion about the importance of storytelling, this quote could emphasize how writers aim to connect with their audience.
Never such innocence, Never before or since, As changed itself to past Without a word--the men Leaving the gardens tidy, The thousands of marriages Lasting a little while longer: Never such innocence again.
Uncontradicting solitude Supports me on its giant palm; And like a sea-anemone Or simple snail, there cautiously Unfolds, emerges, what I am.
Saki says that youth is like hors d'oeuvres: you are so busy thinking of the next courses you don't notice it. When you've had them, you wish you'd had more hors d'oeuvres.
Above all, though, children are linked to adults by the simple fact that they are in process of turning into them. For this they may be forgiven much. Children are bound to be inferior to adults, or there is no incentive to grow up.
Originality is being different from oneself, not others.
I can't understand these chaps who go round American universities explaining how they write poems: It's like going round explaining how you sleep with your wife.
If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.
Adornment is never anything except a reflection of the heart.
Artists working for other artists is all about knowing, learning, unlearning, initiating long-term artistic dialogues, making connections, creating covens, and getting temporary shelter from the storm.
Every actor has to make terrible films from time to time, but the trick is never to be terrible in them.
Writing a novel is not so much a project as a journey, a voyage, an adventure.
In performance capture roles, it's not a committee of animators that author the role, it's the actor. I think that's a significant thing for people to understand.
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