Who said “The creations of a great writer are little more than the moods and passions of his own…”?

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

SourceLetter to the Editor, Dublin Daily Express (27 February 1895)

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“The creations of a great writer are little more than the moods and passions of his own heart, given surnames and Christian names, and sent to walk the earth.”
— William Butler Yeats
VerifiedLetter to the Editor, Dublin Daily Express (27 February 1895) · evidenceWriters and Writing
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letter to the Editor, Dublin Daily Express (27 February 1895).

APA

Yeats, W. B. (n.d.). The creations of a great writer are little more than the moods and passions of his own heart, given surnames and Christian names, and sent to walk the earth. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36720-the-creations-of-a-great-writer-are-little/

MLA

Yeats, William Butler. “The creations of a great writer are little more than the moods and passions of his own heart, given surnames and Christian names, and sent to walk the earth.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36720-the-creations-of-a-great-writer-are-little/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Yeats, William Butler. “The creations of a great writer are little more than the moods and passions of his own heart, given surnames and Christian names, and sent to walk the earth.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/36720-the-creations-of-a-great-writer-are-little/.

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All 36 William Butler Yeats quotes →