Nowadays, what an award gives is a sense of solidarity with the poetry guild, as it were: sustenance coming from the assent of your peers on the judging panel. Seamus Heaney assentawardcome Change image and share on social
The kinds of truth that art gives us many, many times are small truths. They don't have the resonance of an encyclical from the Pope stating an eternal truth, but they partake of the quality of eternity. There is a sort of timeless delight in them. Seamus Heaney artdelightencyclical share on social
I believe we are put here to improve civilisation. Seamus Heaney civilisationimproveput Change image and 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 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