---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am unknown; what does it matter? Poets…"
description: "\"“I am unknown; what does it matter? Poets are brothers. These lines believe; they love; they hope; and that is all. Dear Master, help me up a little. I..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/arthur-rimbaud-2266_brothers_i-am-unknown-what-does-it-matter-poets-a_2588228.jpg"
---

#  I am unknown; what does it matter? Poets are brothers…

![“I am unknown; what does it matter? Poets are brothers. These lines believe; they love; they hope; and that is all. Dear Master, help me up a little. I am young. Hold out your hand to me.” quote by Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/arthur-rimbaud-2266_brothers_i-am-unknown-what-does-it-matter-poets-a_2588228.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/arthur-rimbaud-2266_brothers_i-am-unknown-what-does-it-matter-poets-a_2588228.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/arthur-rimbaud-2266_brothers_i-am-unknown-what-does-it-matter-poets-a_2588228.jpg)

> ““I am unknown; what does it matter? Poets are brothers. These lines believe; they love; they hope; and that is all. Dear Master, help me up a little. I am young. Hold out your hand to me.””

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

## About This Quote

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

Feeling unknown is irrelevant; poets share brotherhood and hope, seeking guidance and youth.

**In simple terms:** Unknown status matters less; seek guidance.

Key Takeaway

Embrace poetic community and hope.

Themes

poetry identity brotherhood hope

Mood

melancholic hopeful

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

- writing workshops
- young artist support
- literary circles

Key Concepts

existentialism creative mentorship

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you find mentors in art?
- What does “unknown” mean to you?

A Different Perspective

Romantic idealism may ignore practical needs.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets/)

## Related quotes

> [One last word of farewell, dear master and mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also happiness in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/one-last-word-of-farewell-dear-master-and-mistress-whenever-you-visit/)

[Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/)

> [Pray that I may be very little in my own eyes, and not rob my dear Master of any part of his glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/pray-that-i-may-be-very-little-in-my-own-eyes-and-not-rob-my-dear/)

[George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/)

> [Keelhaul the poets in the vestry chairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-shapiro/keelhaul-the-poets-in-the-vestry-chairs/)

[Karl Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-shapiro/)

> [Knowledge and increase of enduring joy From the great Nature that exists in works Of mighty Poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/knowledge-and-increase-of-enduring-joy-from-the-great-nature-that/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [“The promising young poets, the hopefuls? I'd name Richard Wilbur, Peter Viereck, Karl Shapiro, Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Lowell, John Ciardi...Leonard Bacon...but it is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-promising-young-poets-the-hopefuls-i-d-name-richard-wilbur-peter/)

[Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/)

> [Poerty is composition to which the soul bleeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adkruk/poerty-is-composition-to-which-the-soul-bleeds/)

[ADKruk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adkruk/)

> [ Neither men, nor gods, nor booksellers' shelves permit ordinary poets to exist. \[Lat., Mediocribus esse poetis Non homines, non di, non concessere columnae.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/neither-men-nor-gods-nor-booksellers-shelves-permit-ordinary-poets-to/)

[Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/)

> [There were so many Pittsburgh poets in my hallway that if, at that instant, a meteorite had come smashing through my roof, there would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/there-were-so-many-pittsburgh-poets-in-my-hallway-that-if-at-that/)

[Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/)

> [“When one does something, one must do it wholly and well. Those bastard existences where you sell suet all day and write poetry at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/when-one-does-something-one-must-do-it-wholly-and-well-those-bastard/)

[Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/)

> [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/)

[Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/)

> [“Lyric poets are always corrupting the young, making them choke in self-pity and indulge in reverie. Dirty sex and direspect for authority is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-simic/lyric-poets-are-always-corrupting-the-young-making-them-choke-in-self/)

[Charles Simic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-simic/)

> [ “\[poems are\] crystals deposited after the effervescent contact of the spirit with reality. (cristaux deposes apres l'effervescent contact de l'esprit avec la realite)” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-reverdy/poems-are-crystals-deposited-after-the-effervescent-contact-of-the/)

[Pierre Reverdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-reverdy/)

> [One of my favorite poets, Neruda, writes close to the bone. Though I know only a little Spanish, I like to compare the Spanish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/one-of-my-favorite-poets-neruda-writes-close-to-the-bone-though-i/)

[Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/)

> [Absolute is a game with only one player where Absolute forgets itself so it would have a reason to fulfill the motion while returning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/absolute-is-a-game-with-only-one-player-where-absolute-forgets-itself/)

[Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/)

> [Defeat furnishes good material to the poets and the artists, but none of us care to have the glory of the conquered apply to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/defeat-furnishes-good-material-to-the-poets-and-the-artists-but-none/)

[Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/)

## More by Arthur Rimbaud

> [Stronger than alcohol, vaster than poetry, Ferment the freckled red bitterness of love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/stronger-than-alcohol-vaster-than-poetry-ferment-the-freckled-red/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [“My turn now. The story of one of my insanities. For a long time I boasted that I was master of all possible landscapes--…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/my-turn-now-the-story-of-one-of-my-insanities-for-a-long-time-i/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [Eternity. It is the sea mingled with the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/eternity-it-is-the-sea-mingled-with-the-sun/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [“Delivered to oblivion...growing and flowering with incense and weeds to the sullen whine of nasty flies... I loved deserts, burnt out orchards, faded boutiques...I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/delivered-to-oblivion-growing-and-flowering-with-incense-and-weeds-to/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [“I On the calm black water where the stars are sleeping White Ophelia floats like a great lily; Floats very slowly, lying in her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/i-on-the-calm-black-water-where-the-stars-are-sleeping-white-ophelia/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [I went out under the sky, Muse! and I was your vassal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/i-went-out-under-the-sky-muse-and-i-was-your-vassal/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [But the problem is to make the soul into a monster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/but-the-problem-is-to-make-the-soul-into-a-monster/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [Love...no such thing. Whatever it is that binds families and married couples together, that's not love. That's stupidity or selfishness or fear. Love doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/love-no-such-thing-whatever-it-is-that-binds-families-and-married/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [Weakness or strength: you exist, that is strength. You don't know where you are going or why you are going, go in everywhere, answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/weakness-or-strength-you-exist-that-is-strength-you-don-t-know-where/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [Oh! If only we were naked now, and free to watch our protruding parts align; To whisper - both of us - in ecstasy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/oh-if-only-we-were-naked-now-and-free-to-watch-our-protruding-parts/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [But, truly, I have wept too much! The Dawns are heartbreaking. Every moon is atrocious and every sun bitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/but-truly-i-have-wept-too-much-the-dawns-are-heartbreaking-every-moon/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [What an old maid I'm getting to be. lacking the courage to be in love with death!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/what-an-old-maid-i-m-getting-to-be-lacking-the-courage-to-be-in-love/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [“I shall ask forgiveness for having fed on lies. - Farewell ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/i-shall-ask-forgiveness-for-having-fed-on-lies-farewell/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [And I am still alive-what though, my damnation is eternal. A man who deliberately mutilates himself is truly damned, is he not? I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/and-i-am-still-alive-what-though-my-damnation-is-eternal-a-man-who/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [. . . be absolute moderne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/be-absolute-moderne/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

[Explore all 148 Arthur Rimbaud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

## More Brothers quotes

> [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/)

[Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/)

> [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/)

[Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/)

> [“Zed and Sky had stayed behind and were chatting with Will, Sky sitting on Zed's knee as if nothing was going to get them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stirling/zed-and-sky-had-stayed-behind-and-were-chatting-with-will-sky-sitting/)

[Joss Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stirling/)

> [“But if I had to pick another person for her, I'd have to say you, Jess, since I hold you in such high regard.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-brendan/but-if-i-had-to-pick-another-person-for-her-i-d-have-to-say-you-jess/)

Maggie Brendan

> [Brothers all In honour, as in one community, Scholars and gentlemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/brothers-all-in-honour-as-in-one-community-scholars-and-gentlemen/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [I would love 'Aankhen 2' to happen. I would have Govinda and I play these two brothers and having kids who can take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chunky-pandey/i-would-love-aankhen-2-to-happen-i-would-have-govinda-and-i-play/)

[Chunky Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chunky-pandey/)

> [The Jonas Brothers are all sweet. Theyre so amazing to me. Theyve become really good friends of mine, but Im not dating any of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/the-jonas-brothers-are-all-sweet-theyre-so-amazing-to-me-theyve/)

[Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/)

> [Please be slow to judge ‘brothers’ who have a different calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/please-be-slow-to-judge-brothers-who-have-a-different-calling/)

[Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/)

> [I began with small roles in successful movies like 'No Country For Old Men' by the Coen brothers; but it was 'The Last Exorcism'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-landry-jones/i-began-with-small-roles-in-successful-movies-like-no-country-for-old/)

[Caleb Landry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-landry-jones/)

> [My brothers and sister and me grew up making fun of each other, the way we'd speak or move. When we get together, everyone's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-domingo/my-brothers-and-sister-and-me-grew-up-making-fun-of-each-other-the/)

[Colman Domingo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-domingo/)

> [Mr. Peabody is this genetic anomaly. He does have brothers and sisters, all of them non-speaking, not super-smart dogs. He's an outcast, but has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/mr-peabody-is-this-genetic-anomaly-he-does-have-brothers-and-sisters/)

[Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/)

> [I had six brothers and four sisters and I competed with my brothers every day when I was a kid. If you lost in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blanda/i-had-six-brothers-and-four-sisters-and-i-competed-with-my-brothers/)

[George Blanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blanda/)

> [On the gallows tree, all men are brothers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/on-the-gallows-tree-all-men-are-brothers/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/)

[Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/)

> [Real estate funded our first creative endeavors as teenagers and we were doing what we do long before the show 'Property Brothers' was pitched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-scott/real-estate-funded-our-first-creative-endeavors-as-teenagers-and-we/)

[Drew Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-scott/)

[Browse all 1,709 Brothers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I am unknown; what does it matter? Poets are brothers. These lines believe; they love; they hope; and that is all. Dear Master, help me up a little. I am young. Hold out your hand to me.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Arthur Rimbaud"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/i-am-unknown-what-does-it-matter-poets-are-brothers-these-lines/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Brothers"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/i-am-unknown-what-does-it-matter-poets-are-brothers-these-lines/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/arthur-rimbaud-2266_brothers_i-am-unknown-what-does-it-matter-poets-a_2588228.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/arthur-rimbaud-2266_brothers_i-am-unknown-what-does-it-matter-poets-a_2588228.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/940/arthur-rimbaud-2266_brothers_i-am-unknown-what-does-it-matter-poets-a_2588228.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I am unknown; what does it matter? Poets are brothers. These lines believe; they love; they hope; and that…” — Arthur Rimbaud",
                "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": "Arthur Rimbaud",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I am unknown; what does it...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/i-am-unknown-what-does-it-matter-poets-are-brothers-these-lines/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/i-am-unknown-what-does-it-matter-poets-are-brothers-these-lines/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
