8 Quotes & Sayings By Mark Van Doren

Mark Van Doren was among the greatest American writers of his generation. A brilliant student who also excelled in athletics, he was selected by H. L. Mencken as an editor of the literary journal The Smart Set Read more

He later became the editor of the New York Evening Mail and then its publisher, and then, in 1918, returned to New York City to become the managing editor of The New York Times Book Review. During the 1920s and 1930s, Mark was known for his brilliant work on modern literature and his essays on literary subjects ranging from "Lawrence Sterne" to "The Author's Craft." He was also an accomplished poet and poet laureate. Having won two Pulitzer Prizes himself, he was instrumental in securing one for another writer, William Saroyan.

He served as professor of English at Columbia University from 1930 to 1942, where he taught courses in literary translation, American drama, and modern poetry. Throughout his life Mark Van Doren wrote articles, essays, short stories, novels, poetry collections and biographies. His last book was An American Romance (1957).

I have always had the greatest respect for students. There...
1
I have always had the greatest respect for students. There is nothing I hate more than condescension–the attitude that they are inferior to you. I always assume they have good minds. Mark Van Doren
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Bring ideas in and entertain them royally, for one of them may be the king. Mark Van Doren
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For Tolstoy .. . anything that human beings do has its glory.. .. I think he can be said to have hated nothing that ever happened. Mark Van Doren
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Wit is the only wall Between us and the dark. Mark Van Doren
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There is one thing we can do and the happiest people are those who do it to the limit of their ability. We can be completely present. We can be all here. We can ... give all our attention to the opportunity before us. Mark Van Doren
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The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. Mark Van Doren
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The job of the poet is to render the world - to see it and report it without loss, without perversion. No poet ever talks about feelings. Only sentimental people do. Mark Van Doren