---
title: "1 Writing Seriously Quotes By John Ciardi"
description: "1 Writing Seriously quotes by John Ciardi. Plus more from John Ciardi and more Writing Seriously sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/john-ciardi-10262_bad-writing_if-a-man-means-his-writing-seriously-he_1840043.png"
---

> [If a man means his writing seriously, he must mean to write well. But how can he write well until he learns to see what he has written badly. His progress toward good writing and his recognition of bad writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/if-a-man-means-his-writing-seriously-he-must-mean-to-write-well-but/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c0/john-ciardi-10262_bad-writing_if-a-man-means-his-writing-seriously-he_1840043.png)

## More by John Ciardi

> [Tell me how much a nation knows about its own language, and I will tell you how much that nation knows about its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/tell-me-how-much-a-nation-knows-about-its-own-language-and-i-will/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [Modern art is what happens when painters stop looking at girls and persuade themselves that they have a better idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/modern-art-is-what-happens-when-painters-stop-looking-at-girls-and/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [The day will happen whether or not you get up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/the-day-will-happen-whether-or-not-you-get-up/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [But when the pen is in his hand he has to write by itch and twitch, though certainly his itch and twitch are intimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/but-when-the-pen-is-in-his-hand-he-has-to-write-by-itch-and-twitch/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [Who could believe an ant in theory? A giraffe in blueprint? Ten thousand doctors of what's possible Could reason half the jungle out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/who-could-believe-an-ant-in-theory-a-giraffe-in-blueprint-ten/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [“There was a young lady from Gloucester Who complained that her parents both bossed her, So she ran off to Maine. Did her parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/there-was-a-young-lady-from-gloucester-who-complained-that-her/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [One night I dreamed I was locked in my Father's watch With Ptolemy and twenty-one ruby stars Mounted on spheres and the Primum Mobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/one-night-i-dreamed-i-was-locked-in-my-father-s-watch-with-ptolemy/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [Gentility is what is left over from rich ancestors after the money is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/gentility-is-what-is-left-over-from-rich-ancestors-after-the-money-is/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [The classroom should be an entrance into the world, not an escape from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/the-classroom-should-be-an-entrance-into-the-world-not-an-escape-from/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [Boys are the cash of war. Whoever said: we're not free spenders- doesn't know our like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/boys-are-the-cash-of-war-whoever-said-we-re-not-free-spenders-doesn-t/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [“Hell is the denial of the ordinary...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/hell-is-the-denial-of-the-ordinary/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [General rules have been legislated into being by past masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/general-rules-have-been-legislated-into-being-by-past-masters/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [Written by a sponge dipped in warm milk and sprinkled with sugar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/written-by-a-sponge-dipped-in-warm-milk-and-sprinkled-with-sugar/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [Love is the word used to label the sexual excitement of the young, the habituation of the middle-aged, and the mutual dependence of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/love-is-the-word-used-to-label-the-sexual-excitement-of-the-young-the/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

> [A man is what he does with his attention and mine is not for sale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/a-man-is-what-he-does-with-his-attention-and-mine-is-not-for-sale/)

[John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/)

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