William Butler Yeats

One of the most significant figures of 20th-century literature William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet. Yeats also served as an Irish Senator for two terms and was considered a pillar of both the Irish and British literary establishments. Yeats played an instrumental role in the Irish Literary Revival along with Lady Gregory, Edward Martyn, and others, and founded the Abbey Theatre, where he served as its chief during its early years. When in 1923, as the first Irishman, he achieved the Nobel Prize in Literature, the Nobel Committee described as "inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation". Yeats is considered to be one of the few writers who completed their greatest works after being awarded the Nobel Prize; which include The Tower (1928) and The Winding Stair and Other Poems (1933).

"I have believed the best of every man. And find that to believe is enough to make a bad man show him at his best, or even a good man swings his lantern higher.
Be secret and exult, Because of all things known that is most difficult.
If suffering brings wisdom, I would wish to be less wise.
There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven't yet met.
But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams."

Source: Wikipedia and Brainy Quotes