--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As anyone who has the slightest knowledge…" description: "\"As anyone who has the slightest knowledge of my work knows, I have little in common with Larkin, who was tall, taciturn and thin-on-top, and unlike him..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ea/carol-ann-duffy-10503_common_as-anyone-who-has-the-slightest-knowledg_110713.jpg" --- # As anyone who has the slightest knowledge of my work… ![“As anyone who has the slightest knowledge of my work knows, I have little in common with Larkin, who was tall, taciturn and thin-on-top, and unlike him I laugh, nay, sneer, in the face of death. I will concede one point: we are both lesbian poets.” quote by Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ea/carol-ann-duffy-10503_common_as-anyone-who-has-the-slightest-knowledg_110713.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ea/carol-ann-duffy-10503_common_as-anyone-who-has-the-slightest-knowledg_110713.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ea/carol-ann-duffy-10503_common_as-anyone-who-has-the-slightest-knowledg_110713.jpg) > “As anyone who has the slightest knowledge of my work knows, I have little in common with Larkin, who was tall, taciturn and thin-on-top, and unlike him I laugh, nay, sneer, in the face of death. I will concede one point: we are both lesbian poets.” [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author contrasts herself with Larkin, noting differences in demeanor and humor, yet finds a shared identity as a lesbian poet. **In simple terms:** Contrasting personal style while highlighting common queer poet identity. Key Takeaway Identity can bridge stylistic differences. Themes literature identity humor sexuality poetry Mood defiant playful Type personal essay poetic manifesto When to use this quote - literary criticism - queer studies seminars Key Concepts self‑definition cultural affiliation Practical Applications - use personal contrast to explore broader cultural themes Questions to Reflect On - What does shared identity reveal about artistic communities? - How does humor affect perceptions of mortality? A Different Perspective The comparison may oversimplify Larkin’s complex persona. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets/) [Taciturn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taciturn/) ## Related quotes > [Nature can afford to be prodigal in everything, the artist must be frugal down to the last detail. Nature is garrulous to the point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/nature-can-afford-to-be-prodigal-in-everything-the-artist-must-be/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [There are many Welsh who are taciturn, truthful, well formed, open minded, handsome and peaceful, even if no particular individual immediately springs to mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/auberon-waugh/there-are-many-welsh-who-are-taciturn-truthful-well-formed-open/) [Auberon Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/auberon-waugh/) > [I'm not taciturn and stoic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ty-burrell/i-m-not-taciturn-and-stoic/) [Ty Burrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ty-burrell/) > [To how many blockheads of my time has a cold and taciturn demeanor procured the credit of prudence and capacity!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/to-how-many-blockheads-of-my-time-has-a-cold-and-taciturn-demeanor/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“ taciturn , adj. There are days you come home silent. You say words, but you're still silent. I used to bombard you with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/taciturn-adj-there-are-days-you-come-home-silent-you-say-words-but/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Murray sounds like a blindfolded man riding a unicycle on the rim of the pit of doom, the men actually facing the danger are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/murray-sounds-like-a-blindfolded-man-riding-a-unicycle-on-the-rim-of/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [Time Management Tips: One can make a radar-like sweep of the horizon to identify time and task challenges while these are still manageable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/time-management-tips-one-can-make-a-radar-like-sweep-of-the-horizon/) [Neal A. 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I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [“A wise man knows how little he knows and upon his death he drinks wisdom from an empty cup.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tarttelin/a-wise-man-knows-how-little-he-knows-and-upon-his-death-he-drinks/) John Tarttelin ## More by Carol Ann Duffy > [Between 9am and 3pm is when I work most intensely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/between-9am-and-3pm-is-when-i-work-most-intensely/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [Like the sand and the oyster, it's a creative irritant. In each poem, I'm trying to reveal a truth, so it can't have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/like-the-sand-and-the-oyster-it-s-a-creative-irritant-in-each-poem-i/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [Where I lived - winter and hard earth.I sat in my cold stone roomchoosing tough words, granite, flint,to break the ice. My broken heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/where-i-lived-winter-and-hard-earth-i-sat-in-my-cold-stone/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [“Beauty is fame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/beauty-is-fame/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [I like to use simple words, but in a complicated way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/i-like-to-use-simple-words-but-in-a-complicated-way/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [Poetry and prayer are very similar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/poetry-and-prayer-are-very-similar/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [She stood upon a continent of ice, which sparkled between sea and sky, endless and dazzling, as though the world kept all its treasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/she-stood-upon-a-continent-of-ice-which-sparkled-between-sea-and-sky/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [“I like pouring your tea, lifting the heavy pot, and tipping it up, so the fragrant liquid streams in your china cup. Or when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/i-like-pouring-your-tea-lifting-the-heavy-pot-and-tipping-it-up-so/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [Every day is a gift with a child, no matter what problems you have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/every-day-is-a-gift-with-a-child-no-matter-what-problems-you-have/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [“I like pouring your tea, lifting the heavy pot, and tipping it up, so the fragrant liquid steams in your china cup. Or when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/i-like-pouring-your-tea-lifting-the-heavy-pot-and-tipping-it-up-so-2/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [I am always pleased to be asked to write a poem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/i-am-always-pleased-to-be-asked-to-write-a-poem/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [“bees are the batteries of orchards, gardens, guard them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/bees-are-the-batteries-of-orchards-gardens-guard-them/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [Time hates love, wants love poor,/but love spins gold, gold, gold from straw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/time-hates-love-wants-love-poor-but-love-spins-gold-gold-gold-from/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [Auden said poetry makes nothing happen. But I wonder if the opposite could be true. It could make something happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/auden-said-poetry-makes-nothing-happen-but-i-wonder-if-the-opposite/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) > [The poem is the literary form of the 21st century. It's able to connect young people in a deep way to language... it's language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-ann-duffy/the-poem-is-the-literary-form-of-the-21st-century-it-s-able-to/) [Carol Ann Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) [Explore all 65 Carol Ann Duffy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-ann-duffy/) ## More Common quotes > [I'm Fine!, the most common LIE in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-m-fine-the-most-common-lie-in-the-world/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. 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