William Butler Yeats, born on June 13, 1865, in Sandymount, County Dublin, Ireland, was a renowned Irish poet, dramatist, and essayist. He played a key role in the Irish Literary Revival and co-founded the Abbey Theatre, becoming a leading voice in 20th-century literature. Yeats received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923 for his poetic expression of national spirit and human emotions. His career spanned mystical themes, political commentary, and personal reflections, influencing generations. The quotes featured here are drawn from his poems, essays, speeches, and interviews, focusing on life’s profound aspects. This curated list presents 15 insightful quotes by Yeats about life, offering wisdom that remains relevant today.
15 William Butler Yeats Quotes
1. “The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” (Essay, “The Celtic Twilight,” 1893)
2. “In dreams begins responsibility.” (Poem, “Responsibilities,” 1914)
3. “Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people.” (Autobiography, “Reveries over Childhood and Youth,” 1915)
4. “Life is a long preparation for something that never happens.” (Interview, The Irish Times, n.d.)
5. “We can make our minds so like still water that beings gather about us that they may see their own images.” (Book, “Per Amica Silentia Lunae,” 1917)
6. “The only business of the head in the world is to bow a ceaseless obeisance to the heart.” (Essay, “Ideas of Good and Evil,” 1903)
7. “Out of the quarrel with others we make rhetoric; out of the quarrel with ourselves we make poetry.” (Autobiography, “Reveries over Childhood and Youth,” 1915)
8. “Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.” (Essay, “The Symbolism of Poetry,” 1900)
9. “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” (Speech, University College Dublin, 1900)
10. “The light of lights looks always on the motive, not the deed.” (Poem, “Vacillation,” 1932)
11. “Wine comes in at the mouth and love comes in at the eye; that’s all we shall know for truth before we grow old and die.” (Poem, “A Drinking Song,” 1910)
12. “I have spread my dreams under your feet; tread softly because you tread on my dreams.” (Poem, “He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven,” 1899)
13. “The years like great black oxen tread the world, and God the herdsman treads them on behind.” (Poem, “The Countess Cathleen,” 1892)
14. “Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart.” (Poem, “Easter, 1916,” 1916)
15. “Cast a cold eye on life, on death. Horseman, pass by!” (Poem, “Under Ben Bulben,” 1939)
William Butler Yeats’s quotes about life reveal a deep, introspective wisdom, touching on themes of dreams, responsibility, and the human spirit’s resilience. They show his view of life as a blend of mystery, struggle, and beauty, encouraging self-reflection and growth. Overall, these words highlight Yeats’s enduring insight into existence. We invite you to share your thoughts or a favorite quote in the comments below—let’s discuss how his ideas resonate with you today.