“And medecine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love: these are what we stay alive for.”

“We don't read and write poetry because it's cute.”

“Believe it or not each and every one of us in this room is one day going to stop breathing, turn cold, and die”

“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world”

“We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race.”

“And medecine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love: these are what we stay alive for.”