99 Famous Quotes By Anne Sexton, The Author Of The Complete Poems

Famous As: Poet

Born On: 1928

Died On: 1974

Born In: Newton, Massachusetts, United States

Died At Age: 45

Anne Sexton was an American poet who is best known for her Confessional poetry style. A winner of Pulitzer Prize, she zoomed to the peak of her career with her book, ‘Live or Die’. Most her Sexton’s poetic verses were based on themes of battle against depression and mania, suicidal tendencies, and various intimate details from her private life. Sexton’s foray into writing was to come out of her period of post-partum depression that she fell into after the birth of her first child. Encouraged by her therapist, she joined writing groups and soon came under the influence of prolific writers. Interestingly, unlike other writers of her generation, Sexton’s work was enormously popular during her lifetime and she received numerous honors and awards. She was without a doubt the most modern of confessional poets. Sexton openly wrote about topics that were a taboo in poetry writing. Although critics criticized her work, it did not stop her from writing on menstruation, abortion, masturbation, incest, adultery, and drug addiction. Much like her work, Sexton’s quotes were equally famous as she explored confessional themes and gave people a new perspective to look at. Her quotes touch various aspects of life including life, death, soul, immortality, belief, and so on. Read through his section and explore some quotes by her.

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Writers

Poets

As it has been said:
Love and a cough
cannot be concealed.
Even a small cough.
Even a small love.

As it has been said: Love and a cough cannot be concealed. Even a small cough. Even a small love.
Love
Anne Sexton

Watch out for intellect,
because it knows so much it knows nothing
and leaves you hanging upside down,
mouthing knowledge as your heart
falls out of your mouth.

Watch out for intellect, because it knows so much it knows nothing and leaves you hanging upside down, mouthing knowledge as your heart falls out of your mouth.
You
Anne Sexton

Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard.

Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard.
Soul
Anne Sexton

As for me, I am a watercolor.
I wash off.

As for me, I am a watercolor. I wash off.
Me I
Anne Sexton

I am stuffing your mouth with your
promises and watching
you vomit them out upon my face.

I am stuffing your mouth with your promises and watching you vomit them out upon my face.
You I
Anne Sexton

Even so, I must admire your skill.
You are so gracefully insane.

Even so, I must admire your skill. You are so gracefully insane.
You I
Anne Sexton

I am alone here in my own mind.
There is no map
and there is no road.
It is one of a kind
just as yours is.

I am alone here in my own mind. There is no map and there is no road. It is one of a kind just as yours is.
Alone I
Anne Sexton

Live or die, but don't poison everything.

Live or die, but don't poison everything.
Anne Sexton

I like you; your eyes are full of language.

I like you; your eyes are full of language." [Letter to Anne Clarke, July 3, 1964.]
Like I
Anne Sexton

Everyone in me is a bird
I am beating all my wings

Everyone in me is a bird I am beating all my wings
Me
Anne Sexton

I am a collection of dismantled almosts.

I am a collection of dismantled almosts.
I
Anne Sexton

Only my books anoint me,
and a few friends,
those who reach into my veins.

Only my books anoint me, and a few friends, those who reach into my veins.
Me Friends Books
Anne Sexton

Perhaps I am no one.
True, I have a body
and I cannot escape from it.
I would like to fly out of my head,
but that is out of the question.

Perhaps I am no one. True, I have a body and I cannot escape from it. I would like to fly out of my head, but that is out of the question.
Like I
Anne Sexton

The joy that isn't shared dies young.
Young
Anne Sexton

All day I've built
a lifetime and now
the sun sinks to
undo it.

All day I've built a lifetime and now the sun sinks to undo it.
Anne Sexton

I’m lost. And it’s my own fault. It’s about time I figured out that I can’t ask people to keep me found.

I’m lost. And it’s my own fault. It’s about time I figured out that I can’t ask people to keep me found.
Me Time I
Anne Sexton

Depression is boring, I think
and I would do better to make
some soup and light up the cave.

Depression is boring, I think and I would do better to make some soup and light up the cave.
I
Anne Sexton

It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was.

It doesn't matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was.
I
Anne Sexton

Sometimes the soul takes pictures of things it has wished for, but never seen.

Sometimes the soul takes pictures of things it has wished for, but never seen.
Never Soul
Anne Sexton

Saints have no moderation, nor do poets, just exuberance.

Saints have no moderation, nor do poets, just exuberance.
Anne Sexton

She is so naked and singular.
She is the sum of yourself and your dream.
Climb her like a monument, step after step.
She is solid.

She is so naked and singular. She is the sum of yourself and your dream. Climb her like a monument, step after step. She is solid.
Yourself Like
Anne Sexton