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Now, in our opinion no author should be blamed for…

“Now, in our opinion no author should be blamed for obscurity, nor should any pains be grudged in the effort to understand him, provided that he has done his best to be intelligible. Difficult thoughts are quite distinct from difficult words. Difficulty of thought is the very heart of poetry.” quote by Alice Meynell
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“Now, in our opinion no author should be blamed for obscurity, nor should any pains be grudged in the effort to understand him, provided that he has done his best to be intelligible. Difficult thoughts are quite distinct from difficult words. Difficulty of thought is the very heart of poetry.”

Alice Meynell

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Poetry should be clear; difficulty lies in ideas, not language, and true poetry embraces complex thought.

In simple terms: Poetry is about deep ideas, not hard words.

Key Takeaway

Seek clarity in expression.

Themes

poetry communication intelligibility

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • teaching literature
  • writing workshops
  • reading poetry
  • literary analysis

Key Concepts

literary criticism philosophy of language

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance depth and clarity?
  • When does complexity become a barrier?
A Different Perspective

Even clear language can mask confusing ideas.

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