Hate-hardened heart, O heart of iron, iron is iron till it is rust. There never was a war that was not inward; I must fight till I have conquered in myself what causes war, but I would not believe it.
ATTRIBUTION:
Marianne Moore (1887–1972), U.S. poet. In Distrust of Merits (l. 71–76). . .
The Complete Poems of Marianne Moore. (1981) Penguin Books.
