John Betjeman Quotes

Quotes about:

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

John Betjeman

Children, Dark, Sight

66 Copy quote
On out deathbeds we're not going to regret all the work we didn't do. We're going to regret all the sex we didn't have!

John Betjeman

Sex, Regret, Deathbed

28 Copy quote
It's strange that those we miss the most Are those we take for granted.

John Betjeman

Missing, Strange, Granted

John Betjeman, “The Hon. Sec”

21 Copy quote
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

26 Copy quote
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

John Betjeman (2005). “Faith and Doubt of John Betjeman: An Anthology of Betjeman's Religious Verse”, p.53, A&C Black

21 Copy quote
Norfolk would not be Norfolk without a church tower on the horizon or round a corner up a lane. We cannot spare a single Norfolk church. When a church has been pulled down the country seems empty or is like a necklace with a jewel missing.

John Betjeman

Country, Jewels, Missing

27 Copy quote
I don't think I am any good. If I thought I was any good, I wouldn't be.

John Betjeman

Thinking, Ifs

John Betjeman (1994). “Letters: 1951 to 1984”

6 Copy quote
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

16 Copy quote
And now, dear Lord, I cannot wait Because I have a luncheon date.

John Betjeman

Food, Dear Lord, Waiting

John Betjeman (1970). “John Betjeman's collected poems”, John Murray Publishers

13 Copy quote
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

1952 First and Last Loves.

17 Copy quote
I ought to warn you that my verse is of no interest to people who can think.

John Betjeman

Thinking, People, Interest

John Betjeman, Stephen Games (2006). “Trains and buttered toast: selected radio talks”, John Murray Pubs Ltd

15 Copy quote
What the Londoner sees in his mind's eye is that cluster of towers and pinnacles seen from Pentonville Hill and outlined against a foggy sunset, and the great arc of Barlow's train shed gaping to devour incoming engines, and the sudden burst of exuberant Gothic of the hotel seen from gloomy Judd Street.

John Betjeman

Sunset, Eye, Mind

19 Copy quote
And I think it was the outline of that church tower at Belaugh against the sky which gave me a passion for churches so that every church I've past since I've wanted to stop and look in.

John Betjeman

Passion, Past, Thinking

John Betjeman (1997). “John Betjeman: coming home : an anthology of his prose 1920-1977”, Vintage

15 Copy quote
Hymns are the poetry of the people.

John Betjeman

Hymns, People

Radio Talk on BBC Radio, July 04, 1975.

13 Copy quote
Topography is one of my chief themes in my poetry, about the country, the suburbs and the seaside. Then there comes love... and increasingly; the fear of death.

John Betjeman

Country, Topography, Fear Of Death

Radio Talk on BBC Third Programme, 1949.

13 Copy quote
Imprisoned in a cage of sound, even the trivial seems profound

John Betjeman

Profound, Sound, Cages

John Betjeman (2005). “Faith and Doubt of John Betjeman: An Anthology of Betjeman's Religious Verse”, p.73, A&C Black

7 Copy quote
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

8 Copy quote
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

Visions Of The Future, Towers, Fields

John Betjeman (2005). “Faith and Doubt of John Betjeman: An Anthology of Betjeman's Religious Verse”, p.177, A&C Black

12 Copy quote
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

12 Copy quote
I am still reeling with delight at the soaring majesty of Norfolk.

John Betjeman

Delight, Majesty, Norfolk

John Betjeman (1994). “Letters: 1951 to 1984”

6 Copy quote
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

John Betjeman (2007). “Tennis Whites and Teacakes”, Hodder & Stoughton

12 Copy quote
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, Silver Bells

John Betjeman (2005). “Faith and Doubt of John Betjeman: An Anthology of Betjeman's Religious Verse”, p.82, A&C Black

7 Copy quote
Lord, reserve for me a crown,
And do not let my shares go down.

John Betjeman

Crowns, Rewards, Lord

John Betjeman (2007). “Tennis Whites and Teacakes”, Hodder & Stoughton

4 Copy quote
Hymn tunes are the nearest we've got to English folk music.

John Betjeman

Hymns, Tunes, Folks

Radio Talk. BBC Radio 4, August 2, 1978.

7 Copy quote
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

John Betjeman, “Business Girls”

10 Copy quote

You May Also Like:

Cecil Day-Lewis

John Betjeman

Follow

Born: August 28, 1906
Died: May 19, 1984
Occupation: Poet
Cite this Page: Citation

Popular Topics