Poetry quotes
987 quotes on this topic — from poets, philosophers, and thinkers across history.
Explore further
Browse quotes that often appear alongside poetry — connected by shared ideas and recurring themes.
Quote collection
Follow a thought to its author, or read the full quote page.
"Poetry should be vital--either stirring our blood by its divine movements or snatching our breath by its divine perfection. To do both is supreme glory, to do either is enduring fame."
"The purpose of poetry is to make life complete in itself."
"Most poets who have little or nothing to say are concerned primarily with the way in which they say it ... if it is true that the style of a poem and the poem itself are one, ... it may be ... that the poets who have little or nothing to say are, or will be, the poets that matter."
"All poetry is experimental poetry."
"You know that the nucleus of a time is not The poet but the poem, the growth of the mind Of the world, the heroic effort to live expressed As victory. The poet does not speak in ruins Nor stand there making orotund consolations. He shares the confusions of intelligence."
"Poetry is a satifying of the desire for resemblance."
"Poetry is poetry, and one's objective as a poet is to achieve poetry precisely as one's objective in music is to achieve music."
"At times it has been doubtful to me if Emerson really knows or feels what Poetry is at its highest, as in the Bible, for instance, or Homer or Shakspeare. I see he covertly or plainly likes best superb verbal polish, or something old or odd"
"Poetry is evidently a contagious complaint."
"Poetry is the eloquence of verse."
"I have heard that hysterical women say They are sick of the palette and fiddle-bow, Of poets that are always gay"
"O heart, be at peace, because Nor knave nor dolt can break What's not for their applause, Being for a woman's sake."
"I thought of rhyme alone, For rhyme can beat a measure out of trouble And make the daylight sweet once more."
"True poetry is not of earth, 'T is more of Heaven by its birth."
"I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same Meeter Ballad-mongers: I had rather heare a Brazen Candlestick turn'd, Or a dry Wheele grate on the Axle-tree, And that would set my teeth nothing an edge, Nothing so much, as mincing Poetrie."
"Knowledge and increase of enduring joy From the great Nature that exists in works Of mighty Poets."
"Poetry has never brought me in enough money to buy shoestrings."
"Poetry is the outcome of emotions recollected in tranquility."
"Poetry is most just to its divine origin, when it administers the comforts and breathes the thoughts of religion."
"Take the sweet poetry of life away, and what remains behind?"
