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"But as to risings, I can tell you why. It is on contradiction that they grow. It seemed the best thing to be up and go. Up was the heartening and the strong reply The heart of standing is we cannot fly."
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William EmpsonBeing everything, let us admit that is to be something, Or give ourse — William Empson
"Being everything, let us admit that is to be something, Or give ourselves the benefit of the doubt; Let us offer our pinch of dust all to this God, And grant his reign over the entire building."
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William Empson
William Empson
author
Sir William Empson was an English literary critic and poet, widely influential for his practice of closely reading literary works, a practice fundamental to New Criticism. His best-known work is his first, Seven Types of Ambiguity, published in 1930.
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"Hours before dawn we were woken by the quake. My house was on a cliff. The thing could take Bookloads off shelves, break bottles in a row. Then the long pause and then the bigger shake. It seemed the best thing to be up and go."
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William EmpsonQuote
"Life involves maintaining oneself between contradictions that cant be solved by analysis."
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William EmpsonQuote
"Man, as the prying housemaid of the soul."
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William EmpsonQuote
"Attending there let us absorb the cultures of nations And dissolve into our judgement all their codes. Then, being clogged with a natural hesitation (People are continually asking one the way out), Let us stand here and admit that we have no road."
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William EmpsonQuote
"All those large dreams by which men long live well Are magic-lanterned on the smoke of hell."
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William Empson