--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We know the particular poem, not what it…" description: "\"We know the particular poem, not what it says that we can restate.\" — Allen Tate" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/allen-tate-7943_particular_we-know-the-particular-poem-not-what-it_2834827.jpg" --- # We know the particular poem, not what it says that we can… ![“We know the particular poem, not what it says that we can restate.” quote by Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/allen-tate-7943_particular_we-know-the-particular-poem-not-what-it_2834827.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/allen-tate-7943_particular_we-know-the-particular-poem-not-what-it_2834827.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b9/allen-tate-7943_particular_we-know-the-particular-poem-not-what-it_2834827.jpg) > “We know the particular poem, not what it says that we can restate.” [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We can recall a poem’s existence but struggle to articulate its meaning, highlighting the gap between knowledge and expression. **In simple terms:** Knowing a poem doesn’t equal understanding it. Key Takeaway Practice articulating insights. Themes knowledge expression interpretation Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - academic study - personal reflection Key Concepts literature education Questions to Reflect On - How do you deepen your comprehension? - What techniques aid in expressing ideas? A Different Perspective May lead to superficial engagement with art. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Particular Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular-poem-3205172/) [Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poem/) [Poem Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poem-says-659052/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Restate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restate-1013592/) [Says Restate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-restate-3683936/) ## Related quotes > [“Our contempt for any particular poem must be perfect, be total, because only a ruthless reading that allows us to measure the gap between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/our-contempt-for-any-particular-poem-must-be-perfect-be-total-because/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [In a manner of speaking, the poem is its own knower, neither poet nor reader knowing anything that the poem says apart from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/in-a-manner-of-speaking-the-poem-is-its-own-knower-neither-poet-nor/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [There can be nothing more humiliating for a writer of fiction to have to do than restate a case that has already been made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/there-can-be-nothing-more-humiliating-for-a-writer-of-fiction-to-have/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [If someone is feeling out of sorts or detached it's a great time to bring them in and restate why we are here and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/if-someone-is-feeling-out-of-sorts-or-detached-it-s-a-great-time-to/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [It is never what a poem says that matters, but what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-a-richards/it-is-never-what-a-poem-says-that-matters-but-what-it-is/) [I. A. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-a-richards/) > [I am looking for a poem that says Everything so I don't have to write anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tukaram/i-am-looking-for-a-poem-that-says-everything-so-i-don-t-have-to-write/) [Tukaram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tukaram/) > [when a poem says something that could not have been said in any other way, in music, prose, sculpture, movement or paint, then it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sybil-marshall/when-a-poem-says-something-that-could-not-have-been-said-in-any-other/) [Sybil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sybil-marshall/) > [A lot of my poems are about how ill I am and how I probably won't live beyond next week. I publish a poem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/a-lot-of-my-poems-are-about-how-ill-i-am-and-how-i-probably-won-t/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [“In the republic of poetry, the guard at the airport will not allow you to leave the country until you declaim a poem for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-espada/in-the-republic-of-poetry-the-guard-at-the-airport-will-not-allow-you/) [Martin Espada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-espada/) > [“The art of the successful poem is that is says more than its words say.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-mag-man/the-art-of-the-successful-poem-is-that-is-says-more-than-its-words-say/) [the mag man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-mag-man/) > [A successful poem says what a poet wants to say, and more, with particular finality. The remarks he makes about his poems are incidental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-jarrell/a-successful-poem-says-what-a-poet-wants-to-say-and-more-with/) [Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-jarrell/) > [“Somehow, when a person you like reads your poem and says they like it, the poem seems all fresh and new afterwards. I wonder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lipman/somehow-when-a-person-you-like-reads-your-poem-and-says-they-like-it/) [Matthew Lipman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lipman/) > [“We are the poem, his poem says, that emerges from the unity of the body and the mind. That fragile unity--this brief parenthesis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/we-are-the-poem-his-poem-says-that-emerges-from-the-unity-of-the-body/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [I am probably going to pay for this at some point, but I think pretty much everyone I come into contact with is fair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-mann/i-am-probably-going-to-pay-for-this-at-some-point-but-i-think-pretty/) [Randall Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-mann/) > [“Cassia. I know which life is my real one now, no matter what happens. It’s the one with you. For some reason, knowing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/cassia-i-know-which-life-is-my-real-one-now-no-matter-what-happens-it/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) ## More by Allen Tate > [So the poet, who wants to be something that he cannot be, and is a failure in plain life, makes up fictitious versions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/so-the-poet-who-wants-to-be-something-that-he-cannot-be-and-is-a/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [The mission for the day is to encourage students to think beyond traditional career opportunities, prepare for future careers and entrance into the workplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/the-mission-for-the-day-is-to-encourage-students-to-think-beyond/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [There is a calm for you where men and women Unroll the chill precision of moving feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/there-is-a-calm-for-you-where-men-and-women-unroll-the-chill/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [The twilight is long fingers and black hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/the-twilight-is-long-fingers-and-black-hair/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [What is the flesh and blood compounded ofBut a few moments in the life of time?This prowling of the cells, litigious love,Wears the long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/what-is-the-flesh-and-blood-compounded-ofbut-a-few-moments-in-the/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [In an age of abstract experience, fornication Is self-expression, adjunct to Christian euphoria, And whores become delinquents; delinquents, patients; Patients, wards of society. Whores,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/in-an-age-of-abstract-experience-fornication-is-self-expression/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [With spring the father-sky remakes the world: The male shower has flowed into the bride, Earth's body; then shifted through sky and sea and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/with-spring-the-father-sky-remakes-the-world-the-male-shower-has/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [Other psychological theories say a good deal about compensation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/other-psychological-theories-say-a-good-deal-about-compensation/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [Walk in this faithless grass with studious tread, Lest mice, weasels, germane beasts, too soon The tall hat and eyes, the fierce feet, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/walk-in-this-faithless-grass-with-studious-tread-lest-mice-weasels/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [For intellect is a mansion where waste is without drain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/for-intellect-is-a-mansion-where-waste-is-without-drain/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [Punctilious abyss, the yawn of space Come once a day to suffocate the sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/punctilious-abyss-the-yawn-of-space-come-once-a-day-to-suffocate-the/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [There is probably nothing wrong with art for art's sake if we take the phrase seriously, and not take it to mean the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/there-is-probably-nothing-wrong-with-art-for-art-s-sake-if-we-take/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [My darling boy whom I shall never know, My son, I love you in my deepest fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/my-darling-boy-whom-i-shall-never-know-my-son-i-love-you-in-my/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [Venus knows country matters: country knows Venus: For Love, Dione's boy, was born on the farm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/venus-knows-country-matters-country-knows-venus-for-love-dione-s-boy/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [Let us begin to understand the argument. There is a solution to everything: Science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/let-us-begin-to-understand-the-argument-there-is-a-solution-to/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) [Explore all 86 Allen Tate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) ## More Particular quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [War is like a fire. One man may start it, but it will spread all over. It is not about one thing in particular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-is-like-a-fire-one-man-may-start-it-but-it-will-spread-all-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [I don't do films because they tell a particular kind of story, I do films with stories that touch me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aamir-khan/i-don-t-do-films-because-they-tell-a-particular-kind-of-story-i-do/) [Aamir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aamir-khan/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [Thinking, or more precisely identification with thinking, gives rise to and maintains the ego, which, in our Western society in particular, is out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thinking-or-more-precisely-identification-with-thinking-gives-rise-to/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [I'm not ready to give you a clear answer on whether electoral politics holds any particular hope for progressives. 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