--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the godly poet must be chaste…" description: "\"For the godly poet must be chaste himself, but there is no need for his verses to be so.\" — Catullus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db6/catullus-11720_chaste_for-the-godly-poet-must-be-chaste-himsel_2655511.jpg" --- # For the godly poet must be chaste himself, but there is no… ![“For the godly poet must be chaste himself, but there is no need for his verses to be so.” quote by Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db6/catullus-11720_chaste_for-the-godly-poet-must-be-chaste-himsel_2655511.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db6/catullus-11720_chaste_for-the-godly-poet-must-be-chaste-himsel_2655511.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db6/catullus-11720_chaste_for-the-godly-poet-must-be-chaste-himsel_2655511.jpg) > “For the godly poet must be chaste himself, but there is no need for his verses to be so.” [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A poet should maintain personal moral purity, though his work need not be constrained by the same strictness. **In simple terms:** Poets can be morally pure but write freely. Key Takeaway Separate personal virtue from artistic expression. Themes ethics art freedom integrity Mood reflective critical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - literary criticism - personal conduct Key Concepts classical literature morality creative liberty Questions to Reflect On - Should an artist's private morality affect how we judge their art? - Can art be judged independently of its creator? A Different Perspective The poet's personal life may still influence public perception of his work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chaste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaste/) [Godly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/godly/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Verses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verses/) ## Related quotes > [So a maiden, while she remains untouched, remains dear to her own; but when she has lost her chaste flower with sullied body, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/so-a-maiden-while-she-remains-untouched-remains-dear-to-her-own-but/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [So a maiden, whilst she remains untouched, so long is she dear to her own; when she has lost her chaste flower with sullied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/so-a-maiden-whilst-she-remains-untouched-so-long-is-she-dear-to-her/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [A Roman divorced from his wife, being highly blamed by his friends, who demanded, "Was she not chaste? Was she not fair? Was she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/a-roman-divorced-from-his-wife-being-highly-blamed-by-his-friends-who/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [If she be not honest, chaste, and true, there's no man happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-she-be-not-honest-chaste-and-true-there-s-no-man-happy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There's a disciplined erotic component to it, so that the height of sexual contact is the embrace, the modest touch, a relatively chaste kiss.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/there-s-a-disciplined-erotic-component-to-it-so-that-the-height-of/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [Mediocre people often have a tinge of religion about them, but it is only a tinge. They take their religion as it comes. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dubay/mediocre-people-often-have-a-tinge-of-religion-about-them-but-it-is/) [Thomas Dubay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dubay/) > [The eye of a man should be still more reverent before the rising of a young maiden than before the rising of a star.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-eye-of-a-man-should-be-still-more-reverent-before-the-rising-of-a/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Too chaste an adolescence makes for a dissolute old age. It is doubtless easier to give up something one has known than something one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/too-chaste-an-adolescence-makes-for-a-dissolute-old-age-it-is/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [“The girl's life had been squandered in the streets, and among the most noisome of the stews and dens of London, but there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-girl-s-life-had-been-squandered-in-the-streets-and-among-the-most/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“A virtuos woman is not moved by big names and flamboyance, but only men of profound wisdom and integrity move her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/a-virtuos-woman-is-not-moved-by-big-names-and-flamboyance-but-only/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“It is better to lock up your heart with a merciless padlock, than to fall in love with someone who doesn't know what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/it-is-better-to-lock-up-your-heart-with-a-merciless-padlock-than-to/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Staying chaste until marriage, a commandment of my faith, was one of the most difficult challenges of my young life. I had a powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/staying-chaste-until-marriage-a-commandment-of-my-faith-was-one-of/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [Manye chapeleyns arn chaste, ac charite is aweye; Are none hardere than hii whan hii ben avaunced: Unkynde to hire kyn and to alle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-langland/manye-chapeleyns-arn-chaste-ac-charite-is-aweye-are-none-hardere-than/) [William Langland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-langland/) > [The one who has not conquered the passions cannot enter the chaste and pure region of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-aleksandrovich-antonov/the-one-who-has-not-conquered-the-passions-cannot-enter-the-chaste/) [Vladimir Aleksandrovich Antonov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-aleksandrovich-antonov/) > [It is not always from valor or from chastity that men are brave, and women chaste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-not-always-from-valor-or-from-chastity-that-men-are-brave-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## More by Catullus > [Away with you, water, destruction of wine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/away-with-you-water-destruction-of-wine/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [I hate and I love, and who can tell me why?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/i-hate-and-i-love-and-who-can-tell-me-why/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [The confounding of all right and wrong, in wild fury, has averted from us the gracious favor of the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/the-confounding-of-all-right-and-wrong-in-wild-fury-has-averted-from/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [Ah, what is more blessed than to put cares away, when the mind lays by its burden, and tired with labor of far travel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/ah-what-is-more-blessed-than-to-put-cares-away-when-the-mind-lays-by/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [I hate and love. And why, perhaps you’ll ask. I don’t know: but I feel, and I’m tormented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/i-hate-and-love-and-why-perhaps-you-ll-ask-i-don-t-know-but-i-feel/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [“O furum optime balneariorum Vibenni pater et cineadi fili (nam dextra pater inquinatiore, culo filius est voraciore), cur non exilium malasque in oras itis?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/o-furum-optime-balneariorum-vibenni-pater-et-cineadi-fili-nam-dextra/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [Stop wishing to merit anyone's gratitude or thinking that anyone can become grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/stop-wishing-to-merit-anyone-s-gratitude-or-thinking-that-anyone-can/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [It is difficult to suddenly give up a long love. Difficile est longum subito deponere amorem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/it-is-difficult-to-suddenly-give-up-a-long-love-difficile-est-longum/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [“I hate and I love. Why do I do this, you may ask? I do not know, but I feel it, and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/i-hate-and-i-love-why-do-i-do-this-you-may-ask-i-do-not-know-but-i/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [“I hate & love. And if you should ask how I can do both, I couldn't say; but I feel it, and it shivers me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/i-hate-love-and-if-you-should-ask-how-i-can-do-both-i-couldn-t-say/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [Oh, this age! How tasteless and ill bred it is!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/oh-this-age-how-tasteless-and-ill-bred-it-is/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love. Vivamus, mea Lesbia, atque amemus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/let-us-live-my-lesbia-and-let-us-love-vivamus-mea-lesbia-atque-amemus/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [To whom do I give my new elegant little book? Cui dono lepidum novum libellum?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/to-whom-do-i-give-my-new-elegant-little-book-cui-dono-lepidum-novum/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [I hate and I love. Perchance you ask why I do that. I know not, but I feel that I do and I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/i-hate-and-i-love-perchance-you-ask-why-i-do-that-i-know-not-but-i/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) > [What woman says to fond lover should be written on air or the swift water. \[Lat., Mulier cupido quod dicit amanti, In vento et…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/what-woman-says-to-fond-lover-should-be-written-on-air-or-the-swift/) [Catullus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) [Explore all 55 Catullus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/) ## More Chaste quotes > [It is not always from valor or from chastity that men are brave, and women chaste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-not-always-from-valor-or-from-chastity-that-men-are-brave-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The one who has not conquered the passions cannot enter the chaste and pure region of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-aleksandrovich-antonov/the-one-who-has-not-conquered-the-passions-cannot-enter-the-chaste/) [Vladimir Aleksandrovich Antonov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-aleksandrovich-antonov/) > [Manye chapeleyns arn chaste, ac charite is aweye; Are none hardere than hii whan hii ben avaunced: Unkynde to hire kyn and to alle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-langland/manye-chapeleyns-arn-chaste-ac-charite-is-aweye-are-none-hardere-than/) [William Langland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-langland/) > [Staying chaste until marriage, a commandment of my faith, was one of the most difficult challenges of my young life. I had a powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/staying-chaste-until-marriage-a-commandment-of-my-faith-was-one-of/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [“It is better to lock up your heart with a merciless padlock, than to fall in love with someone who doesn't know what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/it-is-better-to-lock-up-your-heart-with-a-merciless-padlock-than-to/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“A virtuos woman is not moved by big names and flamboyance, but only men of profound wisdom and integrity move her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/a-virtuos-woman-is-not-moved-by-big-names-and-flamboyance-but-only/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“The girl's life had been squandered in the streets, and among the most noisome of the stews and dens of London, but there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-girl-s-life-had-been-squandered-in-the-streets-and-among-the-most/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Too chaste an adolescence makes for a dissolute old age. It is doubtless easier to give up something one has known than something one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/too-chaste-an-adolescence-makes-for-a-dissolute-old-age-it-is/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [The eye of a man should be still more reverent before the rising of a young maiden than before the rising of a star.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-eye-of-a-man-should-be-still-more-reverent-before-the-rising-of-a/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Mediocre people often have a tinge of religion about them, but it is only a tinge. They take their religion as it comes. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dubay/mediocre-people-often-have-a-tinge-of-religion-about-them-but-it-is/) [Thomas Dubay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dubay/) > [There's a disciplined erotic component to it, so that the height of sexual contact is the embrace, the modest touch, a relatively chaste kiss.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/there-s-a-disciplined-erotic-component-to-it-so-that-the-height-of/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [If she be not honest, chaste, and true, there's no man happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-she-be-not-honest-chaste-and-true-there-s-no-man-happy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A Roman divorced from his wife, being highly blamed by his friends, who demanded, "Was she not chaste? Was she not fair? Was she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/a-roman-divorced-from-his-wife-being-highly-blamed-by-his-friends-who/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Make me chaste and To what excesses will men not go for the sake of a religion in which they believe so little and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/make-me-chaste-and-to-what-excesses-will-men-not-go-for-the-sake-of-a/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Art is never chaste. It ought to be forbidden to ignorant innocents, never allowed into contact with those not sufficiently prepared. Yes, art is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-is-never-chaste-it-ought-to-be-forbidden-to-ignorant-innocents/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 169 Chaste quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaste/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For the godly poet must be chaste himself, but there is no need for his verses to be so.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Catullus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/for-the-godly-poet-must-be-chaste-himself-but-there-is-no-need-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chaste" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/for-the-godly-poet-must-be-chaste-himself-but-there-is-no-need-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db6/catullus-11720_chaste_for-the-godly-poet-must-be-chaste-himsel_2655511.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db6/catullus-11720_chaste_for-the-godly-poet-must-be-chaste-himsel_2655511.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db6/catullus-11720_chaste_for-the-godly-poet-must-be-chaste-himsel_2655511.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For the godly poet must be chaste himself, but there is no need for his verses to be so.” — Catullus", "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": "Catullus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catullus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For the godly poet must be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/for-the-godly-poet-must-be-chaste-himself-but-there-is-no-need-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catullus/for-the-godly-poet-must-be-chaste-himself-but-there-is-no-need-for/#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 } } ] } ```