The Realm of Philosophy and Jokes
A serious and good philosophical work could be written consisting entirely of jokes.
— Ludwig Wittgenstein
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I was told that the Chinese said they would bury me by the Western Lake and build a shrine to my memory. I have some slight regret that this did not happen, as I might have become a god, which would have been very chic for an atheist.
— Bertrand Russell
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I’ll deliver you, dear doves, out of the rational, into the realm of pure song.
— Theodore Roethke
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My role as a poet is as a healer. Poetry is a healing force.
— Joy Harjo
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I’m very conscious of my decline in popularity, but I don’t permit it to stop me because I have the example of so many playwrights before me. I know the dreadful notices Ibsen got. And O’Neill — he had to die to make ‘Moon’ successful,’’ And to me it has been providential to be an artist, a great act of providence that I was able to turn my borderline psychosis into creativity — my sister Rose did not manage this. So I keep writing. I am sometimes pleased with what I do — for me, that’s enough.
