If you go into an underground train in London - probably anywhere, but chiefly in London - there's that sense of almost entering a ghostly dimension. People are very still and quiet; they don't exchange many pleasantries. Seamus Heaney chieflydimensionenter share on social
My father and mother had no sense of entitlement for their children. Seamus Heaney childentitlementfather Change image and share on social
I always had a superstitious fear of setting up a too well-designed writing place and then finding that the writing had absconded. Seamus Heaney absconddesignfear Change image and share on social
The day I entered St Columb's College, my parents bought me a Conway Stewart pen. It was a special afternoon, of course. We were going to be parting that evening; they were aware of it, I was aware of it, nothing much was said about it. Seamus Heaney afternoonawarebuy share on social
As writers and readers, as sinners and citizens, our realism and our aesthetic sense make us wary of crediting the positive note. Seamus Heaney aestheticcitizencredit Change image and share on social
I credit poetry for making this space-walk possible. Seamus Heaney creditmakepoetry Change image and share on social
I have begun to think of life as a series of ripples widening out from an original center. Seamus Heaney begincenterlife Change image and share on social
In my early teens, I acquired a kind of representative status: went on behalf of the family to wakes and funerals and so on. And I would be counted on as an adult contributor when it came to farm work - the hay in the summertime, for example. Seamus Heaney acquireadultbehalf share on social
One doesn't want one's identity coerced. Seamus Heaney coerceidentity Change image and share on social
The faking of feelings is a sin against the imagination. Seamus Heaney fakefeelingimagination Change image and share on social
