John Betjeman famous quotes

04-17-2025

Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows.
-- John Betjeman

#Children #Dark #Smell
Too many people in the modern world view poetry as a luxury, not a necessity like petrol. But to me it's the oil of life.
-- John Betjeman

#Views #Luxury #Oil
Imprisoned in a cage of sound, even the trivial seems profound
-- John Betjeman

#Profound #Sound #Cages
And now, dear Lord, I cannot wait Because I have a luncheon date.
-- John Betjeman

#Waiting #Culinary #Lord
What the Londoner sees in his mindâ€™s eye is that cluster of towers and pinnacles seen from Pentonville Hill and outlined against a foggy sunset, and the great arc of Barlowâ€™s train shed gaping to devour incoming engines, and the sudden burst of exuberant Gothic of the hotel seen from gloomy Judd Streetâ€¦
-- John Betjeman

#Sunset #Eye #Mind
Now if the harvest is over, And the world cold, Give me the bonus of laughter, As I lose hold.
-- John Betjeman

#Happiness #Laughter #Giving
It's strange that those we miss the most Are those we take for granted.
-- John Betjeman

#Missing #Strange #Granted
And behind their frail partitions Business women lie and soak, Seeing through the draughty skylight Flying clouds and railway smoke. Rest you there, poor unbelov'd ones, Lap your loneliness in heat, All too soon the tiny breakfast, Trolley-bus and windy street!
-- John Betjeman

#Loneliness #Lying #Clouds
Gracious Lord, oh bomb the Germans. Spare their women for Thy Sake, And if that is not too easy, We will pardon Thy Mistake. But, gracious Lord, whate'er shall be, Don't let anyone bomb me.
-- John Betjeman

#Mistake #Bombs #Sake
And London shops on Christmas Eve Are strung with silver bells and flowers As hurrying clerks the City leave To pigeon-haunted classic towers, And marbled clouds go scudding by The many-steepled London sky
-- John Betjeman

#Flower #Clouds #Sky
I don't think I am any good. If I thought I was any good, I wouldn't be.
-- John Betjeman

#Thinking
People's backyards are much more interesting than their front gardens, and houses that back on to railways are public benefactors.
-- John Betjeman

#Home #Garden #People
I have a Vision of the Future, chum. The workers flats in fields of soya beans tower up like silver pencils, score on score.
-- John Betjeman

#Vision #Towers #Fields
One mark of good verse is surprise
-- John Betjeman

#Surprise #Mark #Verses
History must not be written with bias, and both sides must be given, even if there is only one side.
-- John Betjeman

#History #Sides #Given
There are two thing you need for a jolly good hymn.The first is a set of words that expresses the mood or sentiment of the worshipper.The second-and perhaps even more important- is a good tune..with a simple popular melody.
-- John Betjeman

#Simple #Hymns #Two
Topography is one of my chief themes in my poetry..about the country, the suburbs and the seaside... then there come's love... and increasingly; the fear of death.
-- John Betjeman

#Country #Topography #Fear Of Death
Hymns are the poetry of the people.
-- John Betjeman

#Hymns #People
I ought to warn you that my verse is of no interest to people who can think.
-- John Betjeman

#Thinking #People #Interest
Ludlow....is probably the loveliest town in England with its hill of Georgian houses ascending from the river Teme to the great tower of the cross-shaped church, rising behind a classic market building.
-- John Betjeman

#Rivers #House #Church
Oh Wasn't it naughty of Smudges? Oh, Mummy, I'm sick with disgust. She threww me in front of the judges, And my silly old collar-bone's bust.
-- John Betjeman

#Horse #Silly #Naughty
Hymn tunes are the nearest we've got to English folk music..
-- John Betjeman

#Hymns #Tunes #Folks

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