--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't spend time thinking about an…" description: "\"I don't spend time thinking about an aesthetic out of which I create or an ideal toward which my body of work is heading. It's amazing, when I read int..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/albert-goldbarth-34966_aesthetic_i-don-t-spend-time-thinking-about-an-aes_881206.jpg" --- # I don't spend time thinking about an aesthetic out of… ![“I don't spend time thinking about an aesthetic out of which I create or an ideal toward which my body of work is heading. It's amazing, when I read interviews with other poets, to see how articulately they discuss their own writing, as if they were sharing long-held theories on the work of Pope or…” quote by Albert Goldbarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/albert-goldbarth-34966_aesthetic_i-don-t-spend-time-thinking-about-an-aes_881206.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/albert-goldbarth-34966_aesthetic_i-don-t-spend-time-thinking-about-an-aes_881206.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/albert-goldbarth-34966_aesthetic_i-don-t-spend-time-thinking-about-an-aes_881206.jpg) > “I don't spend time thinking about an aesthetic out of which I create or an ideal toward which my body of work is heading. It's amazing, when I read interviews with other poets, to see how articulately they discuss their own writing, as if they were sharing long-held theories on the work of Pope or Keats. I'm happy enough that I've poured the best of myself into the poems themselves.” [Albert Goldbarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-goldbarth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poet rejects abstract aesthetic theories, focusing on personal expression in poems. **In simple terms:** Focus on personal expression over theory. Key Takeaway Prioritize authentic creation. Themes authenticity creativity self-expression Mood reflective introspective Type personal creative When to use this quote - writing workshops - personal journals - creative retreats Key Concepts aesthetic theory idealism Questions to Reflect On - How does personal authenticity shape your work? - Do you ever need a guiding theory? A Different Perspective Neglecting theory may limit technical growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aesthetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aesthetic/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [End times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-times/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Interviews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interviews/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets/) [Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pope/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [A work of art can start you thinking about some aesthetic or philosophical problem; it can suggest some new method, some fresh approach to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-prose/a-work-of-art-can-start-you-thinking-about-some-aesthetic-or/) [Francine Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-prose/) > [Men in general are too material and do not make enough human contacts. 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I believe that if we are committed towards it and if we continue to educate people and get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-yeang/i-m-eternally-optimistic-about-the-future-i-believe-that-if-we-are/) [Ken Yeang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-yeang/) > [AI is not just heading for our industry, it will radically change the machinery we use in marketing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-berners-lee/ai-is-not-just-heading-for-our-industry-it-will-radically-change-the/) [Tim Berners-Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-berners-lee/) > [I'm not saying this because I'm looking for a soft cushion wherever I'm heading, I just feel that I've got thousands and thousands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/i-m-not-saying-this-because-i-m-looking-for-a-soft-cushion-wherever-i/) [Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/) > [Something like this will test you like nothing else," Mac said. "You're going to find out who you are, Harry. You're going to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/something-like-this-will-test-you-like-nothing-else-mac-said-you-re/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [We make a lot of detours, but we're always heading for the same destination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-make-a-lot-of-detours-but-we-re-always-heading-for-the-same/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I have a dress fitting to get to at three.' (Simon) 'Cool,' said Kyle, slinging his messenger bag over his shoulder and heading for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-have-a-dress-fitting-to-get-to-at-three-simon-cool-said-kyle/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More by Albert Goldbarth > [I hope any poem I've ever written could stand on its own and not need to be a part of biography, critical theory or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-goldbarth/i-hope-any-poem-i-ve-ever-written-could-stand-on-its-own-and-not-need/) [Albert Goldbarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-goldbarth/) > [“If your life depended on coming up with a tally, if you could straighten its numbers into a flexible line around the moon and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-goldbarth/if-your-life-depended-on-coming-up-with-a-tally-if-you-could/) [Albert Goldbarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-goldbarth/) > [“... I slipped our wicker bed and walked the sands where we were also roughly repeated: some young couple, "you did," "I didn't," "you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-goldbarth/i-slipped-our-wicker-bed-and-walked-the-sands-where-we-were-also/) [Albert Goldbarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-goldbarth/) > [“you don’t understand the protoknowledge we’re born with, coded into our cells: soon soon soon enough we die. Even before we’ve seen the breast,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-goldbarth/you-don-t-understand-the-protoknowledge-we-re-born-with-coded-into/) [Albert Goldbarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-goldbarth/) > [“Talk to me. 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Every atom in you has been dancing the shimmy in silver shoes nonstop from mitosis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-goldbarth/physics-says-go-to-sleep-of-course-you-re-tired-every-atom-in-you-has-2/) [Albert Goldbarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-goldbarth/) > [If you agree with me that a poem can be as bountiful as a rich Victorian narrative, and as wise... then you'll want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-goldbarth/if-you-agree-with-me-that-a-poem-can-be-as-bountiful-as-a-rich/) [Albert Goldbarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-goldbarth/) > [Astronomy says: the sun will rise tomorrow, Zoology says: on rainbow-fish and lithe gazelle, Psychology says: but first it has to be night, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-goldbarth/astronomy-says-the-sun-will-rise-tomorrow-zoology-says-on-rainbow/) [Albert Goldbarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-goldbarth/) > [“How many hands were shook and names were signed and pipes were passed congenially in a circle, before the first of the used-car dealerships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-goldbarth/how-many-hands-were-shook-and-names-were-signed-and-pipes-were-passed/) [Albert Goldbarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-goldbarth/) > [Perhaps you have seen me. I know well, my purpose was merely that of a symbol, 'equals', 'times'... ; but what is said, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-goldbarth/perhaps-you-have-seen-me-i-know-well-my-purpose-was-merely-that-of-a/) [Albert Goldbarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-goldbarth/) [Explore all 13 Albert Goldbarth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-goldbarth/) ## More Aesthetic quotes > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“Beauty in the European sense has always had a premeditated quality to it. We've always had an aesthetic intention and a long-range plan. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/beauty-in-the-european-sense-has-always-had-a-premeditated-quality-to/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [All efforts to render politics aesthetic culminate in one thing: war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/all-efforts-to-render-politics-aesthetic-culminate-in-one-thing-war/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [I don't think I was ever thinking critically about my aesthetic, I think it's enough when you're little just to understand that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavi-gevinson/i-don-t-think-i-was-ever-thinking-critically-about-my-aesthetic-i/) [Tavi Gevinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavi-gevinson/) > [I'm kind of still down with Virg Woolf on this one: "women must kill the aesthetic ideal through which they themselves have been 'killed'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidia-yuknavitch/i-m-kind-of-still-down-with-virg-woolf-on-this-one-women-must-kill/) [Lidia Yuknavitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lidia-yuknavitch/) > [Virtue is as little to be acquired by learning as genius; nay, the idea is barren, and is only to be employed as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/virtue-is-as-little-to-be-acquired-by-learning-as-genius-nay-the-idea/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [There is a certain aesthetic pleasure in trying to imagine the unimaginable and failing, if you are a reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/there-is-a-certain-aesthetic-pleasure-in-trying-to-imagine-the/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) > [I try to get the hip-hop aesthetic, most times without an MC. I don't use a rapper or a DJ to give it the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-glasper/i-try-to-get-the-hip-hop-aesthetic-most-times-without-an-mc-i-don-t/) [Robert Glasper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-glasper/) > [It's so important what you're doing in your life. It's tremendously important to the work, and no aesthetic theories take that into account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maus/it-s-so-important-what-you-re-doing-in-your-life-it-s-tremendously/) [John Maus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maus/) > [It is not necessary to have an extravagant food budget in order to serve things with variety and tastefully cooked. It is not necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-schaeffer/it-is-not-necessary-to-have-an-extravagant-food-budget-in-order-to/) [Edith Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-schaeffer/) > [In reality no food is valued solely for its nutritive power and no garment or house solely for the protection it affords against cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/in-reality-no-food-is-valued-solely-for-its-nutritive-power-and-no/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Art is realistic when it strives to express an ethical ideal. Realism is striving for truth, and truth is always beautiful. Here the aesthetic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-tarkovsky/art-is-realistic-when-it-strives-to-express-an-ethical-ideal-realism/) [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-tarkovsky/) > [I had always wanted to expand to beauty, but I knew I wanted to be able to translate my design aesthetic in an authentic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-ronson/i-had-always-wanted-to-expand-to-beauty-but-i-knew-i-wanted-to-be/) [Charlotte Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-ronson/) > [I wanted the press to become something of a movement. Not a movement committed to a particular 'ism', but a gathering together of writers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-metcalf/i-wanted-the-press-to-become-something-of-a-movement-not-a-movement/) John Metcalf [Browse all 953 Aesthetic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aesthetic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't spend time thinking about an aesthetic out of which I create or an ideal toward which my body of work is heading. It's amazing, when I read interviews with other poets, to see how articulately they discuss their own writing, as if they were sharing long-held theories on the work of Pope or Keats. 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