Who said “It takes little talent to see clearly what lies under one's nose, a good deal of it to…”?

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W. H. Auden. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Dyer's Hand, and Other Essays (1962), "Writing"

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“It takes little talent to see clearly what lies under one's nose, a good deal of it to know in which direction to point that organ.”
— W. H. Auden
VerifiedThe Dyer's Hand, and Other Essays (1962), "Writing" · evidenceTalent
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Dyer's Hand, and Other Essays (1962), "Writing".

APA

Auden, W. H. (n.d.). It takes little talent to see clearly what lies under one's nose, a good deal of it to know in which direction to point that organ. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39084-it-takes-little-talent-to-see-clearly-what/

MLA

Auden, W. H. “It takes little talent to see clearly what lies under one's nose, a good deal of it to know in which direction to point that organ.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39084-it-takes-little-talent-to-see-clearly-what/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Auden, W. H. “It takes little talent to see clearly what lies under one's nose, a good deal of it to know in which direction to point that organ.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39084-it-takes-little-talent-to-see-clearly-what/.

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