1916-1986, American Teacher, Poet, Writer
A neighborhood is a residential area that is changing for the worse.
John Ciardi – [Cities and City Life]
A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in students.
John Ciardi – [Colleges and Universities]
Every parent is at some time the father of the unreturned prodigal, with nothing to do but keep his house open to hope.
John Ciardi – [Hope]
Love is the word used to label the sexual excitement of the young, the habituation of the middle-aged, and the mutual dependence of the old.
John Ciardi – [Love]
Modern art is what happens when painters stop looking at girls and persuade themselves they have a better idea.
John Ciardi – [Arts and Artists]
The Constitution gives every American the inalienable right to make a damn fool of himself.
John Ciardi – [America]
There is nothing wrong with sobriety in moderation.
John Ciardi – [Moderation]
You do not have to suffer to be a poet. Adolescence is enough suffering for anyone.
John Ciardi – [Suffering]