“My main endeavour as to style has been that my poems should be written in pure intelligible English.”

Stating his commitment to clarity and natural English expression · Conversation, recorded by Christopher Wordsworth

• Poetry
• Truth

“These people, in the senseless hurry of their idle lives, do not read books, they merely snatch a glance at them, that they may talk about them.”

Criticising superficial reading performed for social display · Letter to Lady Beaumont, 21 May 1807

• Art
• Fame

“There is a special character of greatness about humility for it implies that a man can, in an unusual degree, estimate the greatness of what is above us.”

Linking humility with the ability to recognise realities greater than oneself · Conversation, recollected by Aubrey de Vere

• Faith
• Truth