writing is lonely[...]

but most of the time you are in a room by yourself, you know

writers spend more time in rooms, staying awake in quiet rooms, than they do hunting lions in africa

so, it's a bad life for a person because it's so lonely and because it consists of such highs and lows, and there's not always anywhere to take these emotional states [...]

it's a life that's tough to sustain without falling prey to some kind of beguiling diversion that's not good for you

contrary to a generally held view, poetry is a very powerful tool because ....poetry is the conscience of a society [...]

no individual poem can stop a war — that's what diplomacy is supposed to do

but poetry is an independent ambassador for conscience:

it answers to no one, it crosses borders without a passport, and it speaks the truth

that's why ... it is one of the most beautiful and powerful of the arts