A. E. Housman

I could no more define poetry than a terrier can define a rat.

If a line of poetry strays into my memory, my skin bristles so that the razor ceases to act.

Even when poetry has a meaning, as it usually has, it may be inadvisable to draw it out... Perfect understanding will sometimes almost extinguish pleasure.

All knowledge is precious whether or not it serves the slightest human use.

Experience has taught me, when I am shaving of a morning, to keep watch over my thoughts, because, if a line of poetry strays into my memory, my skin bristles so that the razor ceases to act.