From Paul Dirac (1902–1984). British theoretical physicist and a founder of the field of quantum physics:
Oppenheimer, they tell me you are writing poetry. I do not see how a man can work on the frontiers of physics and write poetry at the same time. They are in opposition. In science you want to say something that nobody knew before, in words which everyone can understand. In poetry you are bound to say… something that everybody knows already in words that nobody can understand.
From Shel Silverstein (1930 –1999), American poet, singer-songwriter, cartoonist, screenwriter, and author of children’s books, Where the Sidewalk Ends: The Poems and Drawings of Shel Silverstein (1974):
Magic
Sandra’s seen a leprechaun,
Eddie touched a troll,
Laurie danced with witches once,
Charlie found some goblins gold.
Donald heard a mermaid sing,
Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known
I’ve had to make myself.
From William Blake (1757-1827), English poet, painter, and printmaker, “Auguries of Innocence” (1803):
A truth that’s told with bad intent
Beats all the lies you can invent.
