Poems List

Grow your tree of falsehood from a small grain of truth.

The New Yale Book of Quotations

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In a room where people unanimously maintain a conspiracy of silence, one word of truth sounds like a pistol shot.
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Human reason is beautiful and invincible. No bars, no barbed wire, no pulping of books, No sentence of banishment can prevail against it.

Collected Poems 1931–1987 . 1 Incantation

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May the gentle mountains and the bells of the flocks Remind us of everything we have lost, For we have seen on our way and fallen in love With the world that will pass in a twinkling.

Collected Poems 1931–1987. 1 On Pilgrimage

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The purpose of poetry is to remind us how difficult it is to remain just one person, for our house is open, there are no keys in the doors, and invisible guests come in and out at will.

Ars Poetica? [1968]

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Czesław Miłosz was one of the most important poets of the 20th century, known for his exploration of the complexities of European history, morality, and the human condition. His work, often marked by a deep reflection on evil, freedom, and identity, reflects his own experiences as a witness to the political upheavals of the century. As a diplomat, he served in various posts abroad, including Paris and New York, before settling in the United States, where he taught Slavic literature at the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to poetry, Miłosz was also a prolific essayist and a respected translator, contributing significantly to the dissemination of Polish and Lithuanian literature worldwide. His legacy endures as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of memory and truth.