Business Quote by Brian Patten
“When in public poetry should take off its clothes and wave to the nearest person in sight; it should be seen in the company of thieves and lovers rather than that of journalists and publishers.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: "The Public Poetry" by Brian Patten, 1970
Poetry should be raw, spontaneous, and shared with everyday people, not confined to elite or commercial circles.
In simple terms: Poetry belongs to the streets, not just critics.
Key Takeaway
Share poetry openly and boldly.
Themes
authenticity
community
artistic freedom
Mood
defiant
playful
provocative
Type
literary
social commentary
When to use this quote
- street festivals
- open mic nights
- public installations
- community workshops
Key Concepts
performance
public space
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How can poetry reach wider audiences without losing depth?
- What risks arise when art is placed in everyday settings?
A Different Perspective
May be perceived as disrespectful by traditional institutions.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)