Who said “The only business of the head in the world is to bow a ceaseless obeisance to the heart.”?

Verified

William Butler Yeats. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLetter to Frederick J. Gregg (undated, Sligo, late summer, 1886)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“The only business of the head in the world is to bow a ceaseless obeisance to the heart.”
— William Butler Yeats
VerifiedLetter to Frederick J. Gregg (undated, Sligo, late summer, 1886) · evidenceReason
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letter to Frederick J. Gregg (undated, Sligo, late summer, 1886).

APA

Yeats, W. B. (n.d.). The only business of the head in the world is to bow a ceaseless obeisance to the heart. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35446-the-only-business-of-the-head-in-the/

MLA

Yeats, William Butler. “The only business of the head in the world is to bow a ceaseless obeisance to the heart.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35446-the-only-business-of-the-head-in-the/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Yeats, William Butler. “The only business of the head in the world is to bow a ceaseless obeisance to the heart.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/35446-the-only-business-of-the-head-in-the/.

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