Top 11 Quotes by Zbigniew Herbert

No time to grieve for roses when the forests are burning.

No time to grieve for roses when the forests are burning.

Grief, Grieving, Rose

Zbigniew Herbert (2014). “The Collected Poems 1956 - 1998”, p.19, Atlantic Books Ltd

I turn to history not for lessons but to confront my experience with the experience of others and to win for myself a sense of responsibility for the state of the human conscience.

Zbigniew Herbert

Responsibility, Winning, Lessons

"The Truth of Poetry". Book by Michael Hamburger, 1969.

Study the world's skin before you set out to look for its heart.

Zbigniew Herbert

Heart, Advice, Skins

And if the City falls and one survives he shall carry the City within on the roads of exile he shall be the City

Zbigniew Herbert

Fall, Cities, Exile

Be courageous when the mind deceives you Be courageous In the final account only this is important

Zbigniew Herbert

Mind, Important, Finals

Zbigniew Herbert (1977). “Selected poems”

Inanimate objects are always correct and cannot, unfortunately, be reproached with anything. I have never observed a chair shift from one foot to another, or a bed rear on its hind legs. And tables, even when they are tired, will not dare to bend their knees. I suspect that objects do this from pedagogical considerations, to reprove us constantly for our instability.

Zbigniew Herbert

Tired, Feet, Bed

Zbigniew Herbert (2014). “The Collected Poems 1956 - 1998”, p.147, Atlantic Books Ltd