--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Imagination in poetry, as distinguished…" description: "\"Imagination in poetry, as distinguished from mere fancy is the transfiguring of the real or actual to the ideal.\" — Alfred Austin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/alfred-austin-15833_distinguished_imagination-in-poetry-as-distinguished-f_1480555.png" --- # Imagination in poetry, as distinguished from mere fancy is… ![“Imagination in poetry, as distinguished from mere fancy is the transfiguring of the real or actual to the ideal.” quote by Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/alfred-austin-15833_distinguished_imagination-in-poetry-as-distinguished-f_1480555.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/alfred-austin-15833_distinguished_imagination-in-poetry-as-distinguished-f_1480555.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/alfred-austin-15833_distinguished_imagination-in-poetry-as-distinguished-f_1480555.png) > “Imagination in poetry, as distinguished from mere fancy is the transfiguring of the real or actual to the ideal.” [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imagination transforms reality into an ideal vision, beyond mere fancy. **In simple terms:** Imagination elevates reality to ideals. Key Takeaway Cultivate imagination for deeper insight. Themes creativity philosophy idealism Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - writing poetry - design thinking - problem solving Key Concepts transformation visionary thinking Questions to Reflect On - How does imagination shape your goals? - When is realism needed? A Different Perspective Idealism can overlook practical constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Distinguished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinguished/) [Fancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy/) [Fancy Transfiguring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy-transfiguring-5394964/) [Ideals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideals/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Imagination Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination-poetry-1849930/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Transfiguring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transfiguring-5134238/) [Transfiguring Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transfiguring-real-5394963/) ## Related quotes > [A writer starts out, I think, wanting to be a transfiguring agent, and ends up usually just making contact, contact with other human beings.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-williams/a-writer-starts-out-i-think-wanting-to-be-a-transfiguring-agent-and/) [Joy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-williams/) > [“Invention has ever imagination and poetry at its heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-blackwood/invention-has-ever-imagination-and-poetry-at-its-heart/) [Algernon Blackwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-blackwood/) > [Poetry, in a general sense, may be defined to be 'the expression of the imagination': and poetry is connate with the origin of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/poetry-in-a-general-sense-may-be-defined-to-be-the-expression-of-the/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Falling stars are high examples sent To warn, not lure. Gross fancy says they are Substantial meteors; but that is not so. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/falling-stars-are-high-examples-sent-to-warn-not-lure-gross-fancy/) [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) > [James Cameron's films have always been distinguished by ground-breaking technical excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/james-cameron-s-films-have-always-been-distinguished-by-ground/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [A large group of us were crowded into the Gestapo hall, and at that moment the circumstances of all our lives were the same.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/a-large-group-of-us-were-crowded-into-the-gestapo-hall-and-at-that/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [The faculty of self-help is that which distinguished man from animals; that it is the Godlike element, or holds within itself the Godlike element,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/the-faculty-of-self-help-is-that-which-distinguished-man-from-animals/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [Once you grow accustomed to being famous, you do not realize it, but you are never quite your humble, honest self. No matter how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corra-may-harris/once-you-grow-accustomed-to-being-famous-you-do-not-realize-it-but/) [Corra May Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corra-may-harris/) > [Lenity will operate with greater force, in some instances, than rigor. 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There is no reliable formula for originality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-scott/writing-that-flirts-with-incoherence-can-just-as-readily-flounder-as/) [Joanna Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-scott/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [Building great public schools and universities, a strong health care system, including keeping the Affordable Care Act, and then an economy that works well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-castro/building-great-public-schools-and-universities-a-strong-health-care/) [Joaquin Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-castro/) > [The ensouled is distinguished from the unsouled by its being alive. Now since being alive is spoken of in many ways, even if only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-ensouled-is-distinguished-from-the-unsouled-by-its-being-alive/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) ## More by Alfred Austin > [The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/the-glory-of-gardening-hands-in-the-dirt-head-in-the-sun-heart-with/) [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) > [Through the dripping weeks that follow One another slow, and soak Summer's extinguished fire and autumn's drifting smoke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/through-the-dripping-weeks-that-follow-one-another-slow-and-soak/) [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) > [Falling stars are high examples sent To warn, not lure. Gross fancy says they are Substantial meteors; but that is not so. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/falling-stars-are-high-examples-sent-to-warn-not-lure-gross-fancy/) [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) > [Pale January lay In its cradle day by day Dead or living, hard to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/pale-january-lay-in-its-cradle-day-by-day-dead-or-living-hard-to-say/) [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) > [No verse which is unmusical or obscure can be regarded as poetry whatever other qualities it may possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/no-verse-which-is-unmusical-or-obscure-can-be-regarded-as-poetry/) [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) > [Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/show-me-your-garden-and-i-shall-tell-you-what-you-are/) [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) > [He is dead already who doth not feel Life is worth living still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/he-is-dead-already-who-doth-not-feel-life-is-worth-living-still/) [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) > [My virgin sense of sound was steeped In the music of young streams; And roses through the casement peeped, And scented all my dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/my-virgin-sense-of-sound-was-steeped-in-the-music-of-young-streams/) [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) > [Public opinion is no more than this: what people think that other people think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/public-opinion-is-no-more-than-this-what-people-think-that-other/) [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) > [Tears are summer showers to the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/tears-are-summer-showers-to-the-soul/) [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) > [Is life worth living? Yes, so long as there is wrong to right. So long as faith with freedom reigns and loyal hope survives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/is-life-worth-living-yes-so-long-as-there-is-wrong-to-right-so-long/) [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) > [Tears are the summer showers to the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/tears-are-the-summer-showers-to-the-soul/) [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) > [Though my verse but roam the air And murmur in the trees, You may discern a purpose there, As in music of the bees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/though-my-verse-but-roam-the-air-and-murmur-in-the-trees-you-may/) [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) > [There is no gardening without humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/there-is-no-gardening-without-humility/) [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) > [Tis true among fields and woods I sing, Aloof from cities--that my poor strains Were born, like the simple flowers you bring, In English…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/tis-true-among-fields-and-woods-i-sing-aloof-from-cities-that-my-poor/) [Alfred Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) [Explore all 41 Alfred Austin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/) ## More Distinguished quotes > [The ensouled is distinguished from the unsouled by its being alive. Now since being alive is spoken of in many ways, even if only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-ensouled-is-distinguished-from-the-unsouled-by-its-being-alive/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Building great public schools and universities, a strong health care system, including keeping the Affordable Care Act, and then an economy that works well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-castro/building-great-public-schools-and-universities-a-strong-health-care/) [Joaquin Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-castro/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [Writing that flirts with incoherence can just as readily flounder as writing characterized by simplicity and composure. There is no reliable formula for originality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-scott/writing-that-flirts-with-incoherence-can-just-as-readily-flounder-as/) [Joanna Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-scott/) > [Original minds are not distinguished by being the first to see a new thing, but instead by seeing the old, familiar thing that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/original-minds-are-not-distinguished-by-being-the-first-to-see-a-new/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [All I kin git out o' the Wickersham position on prohibition is that the distinguished jurist seems to feel that if we'd let 'em…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kin-hubbard/all-i-kin-git-out-o-the-wickersham-position-on-prohibition-is-that/) [Kin Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kin-hubbard/) > [Lenity will operate with greater force, in some instances, than rigor. It is, therefore, my first wish, to have my whole conduct distinguished by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/lenity-will-operate-with-greater-force-in-some-instances-than-rigor/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Once you grow accustomed to being famous, you do not realize it, but you are never quite your humble, honest self. No matter how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corra-may-harris/once-you-grow-accustomed-to-being-famous-you-do-not-realize-it-but/) [Corra May Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corra-may-harris/) > [The faculty of self-help is that which distinguished man from animals; that it is the Godlike element, or holds within itself the Godlike element,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/the-faculty-of-self-help-is-that-which-distinguished-man-from-animals/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [A large group of us were crowded into the Gestapo hall, and at that moment the circumstances of all our lives were the same.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/a-large-group-of-us-were-crowded-into-the-gestapo-hall-and-at-that/) [Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/) > [James Cameron's films have always been distinguished by ground-breaking technical excellence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/james-cameron-s-films-have-always-been-distinguished-by-ground/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Most lives are not distinguished by great achievements. They are measured by an infinite number of small ones. Each time you do a kindness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/most-lives-are-not-distinguished-by-great-achievements-they-are/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [This twenty-year-old boy was distinguished from childhood by strange qualities, a dreamer and an eccentric. A girl fell in love with him, and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/this-twenty-year-old-boy-was-distinguished-from-childhood-by-strange/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [Two kinds of reading can be distinguished. I call them reading like a reader and reading like a writer ... when you read like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-smith/two-kinds-of-reading-can-be-distinguished-i-call-them-reading-like-a/) [Frank Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-smith/) > [While cities are distinguished by their architecture and physical appearance, Bell and de-Shalit make a compelling case that many major world cities--and their inhabitants--also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witold-rybczynski/while-cities-are-distinguished-by-their-architecture-and-physical/) [Witold Rybczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witold-rybczynski/) [Browse all 463 Distinguished quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinguished/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Imagination in poetry, as distinguished from mere fancy is the transfiguring of the real or actual to the ideal.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alfred Austin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/imagination-in-poetry-as-distinguished-from-mere-fancy-is-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Distinguished" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/imagination-in-poetry-as-distinguished-from-mere-fancy-is-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/alfred-austin-15833_distinguished_imagination-in-poetry-as-distinguished-f_1480555.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/alfred-austin-15833_distinguished_imagination-in-poetry-as-distinguished-f_1480555.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/alfred-austin-15833_distinguished_imagination-in-poetry-as-distinguished-f_1480555.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Imagination in poetry, as distinguished from mere fancy is the transfiguring of the real or actual to the…” — Alfred Austin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alfred Austin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-austin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Imagination in poetry, as distinguished from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/imagination-in-poetry-as-distinguished-from-mere-fancy-is-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-austin/imagination-in-poetry-as-distinguished-from-mere-fancy-is-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```