--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All poets pretend to write for…" description: "\"All poets pretend to write for immortality, but the whole tribe have no objection to present pay, and present praise. Lord Burleigh is not the only sta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/charles-caleb-colton-270_death_all-poets-pretend-to-write-for-immortali_2771624.png" --- # All poets pretend to write for immortality, but the whole… ![“All poets pretend to write for immortality, but the whole tribe have no objection to present pay, and present praise. Lord Burleigh is not the only statesman who has thought one hundred pounds too much for a song, though sung by Spenser; although Oliver Goldsmith is the only poet who ever…” quote by Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/charles-caleb-colton-270_death_all-poets-pretend-to-write-for-immortali_2771624.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/charles-caleb-colton-270_death_all-poets-pretend-to-write-for-immortali_2771624.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/charles-caleb-colton-270_death_all-poets-pretend-to-write-for-immortali_2771624.png) > “All poets pretend to write for immortality, but the whole tribe have no objection to present pay, and present praise. Lord Burleigh is not the only statesman who has thought one hundred pounds too much for a song, though sung by Spenser; although Oliver Goldsmith is the only poet who ever considered himself to have been overpaid.” [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poets claim immortality, yet they accept present pay and praise; some are overpaid for their work. **In simple terms:** Artists seek lasting fame but focus on immediate rewards. Key Takeaway Balance artistic ambition with realistic compensation. Themes art economics legacy Mood critical reflective Type literary economic When to use this quote - publishing contracts - grant applications - career planning Key Concepts immortality payment valuation Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you more: legacy or livelihood? - How do you value artistic work today? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on fame can neglect financial stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Objections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objections/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spenser/) [Statesmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/statesmen/) [Tribes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribes/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [All poets pretend to write for immortality, but the whole tribe have no objection to present pay and present praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/all-poets-pretend-to-write-for-immortality-but-the-whole-tribe-have/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [“ Advice to Young Poets Never pretend to be a unicorn by sticking a plunger on your head.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-espada/advice-to-young-poets-never-pretend-to-be-a-unicorn-by-sticking-a/) Martin Espada > [Whatever the poets pretend, it is plain they give immortality to none but themselves; it is Homer and Virgil we reverence and admire, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/whatever-the-poets-pretend-it-is-plain-they-give-immortality-to-none/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [If you cannot avoid a quarrel with a blackguard, let your lawyer manage it, rather than yourself. No man sweeps his own chimney, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/if-you-cannot-avoid-a-quarrel-with-a-blackguard-let-your-lawyer/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [“Do you have a first name, Mr. Spenser'?” Jill said. She had a soft girlish voice with just a hint of huskiness at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/do-you-have-a-first-name-mr-spenser-jill-said-she-had-a-soft-girlish/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [“I pulled the MG in beside him at the curb and he got in. "This thing ain't big enough for either one of us,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/i-pulled-the-mg-in-beside-him-at-the-curb-and-he-got-in-this-thing/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [Natalie Spenser was giving a dinner. She was not an easy hostess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roberts-rinehart/natalie-spenser-was-giving-a-dinner-she-was-not-an-easy-hostess/) [Mary Roberts Rinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roberts-rinehart/) > [Yeah. Floyd is his batman." His what?" Batman, like in the British army, each officer had a batman, a personal servant." You spend too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/yeah-floyd-is-his-batman-his-what-batman-like-in-the-british-army/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [Soul of the age! The applause, delight, the wonder of our stage! My Shakespeare , rise; I will not lodge thee by Chaucer or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/soul-of-the-age-the-applause-delight-the-wonder-of-our-stage-my-2/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [“We have, then, three Books wholly and one partially written before, and two after, the Preface; and only one of the first four is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-spens/we-have-then-three-books-wholly-and-one-partially-written-before-and/) [Janet Spens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-spens/) > [“After a while I got hungry and went to the kitchen. There was nothing to eat. I drank another beer and looked again, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-parker/after-a-while-i-got-hungry-and-went-to-the-kitchen-there-was-nothing/) [Robert B. Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-parker/) > [Immortal Spenser, no frailty hath thy fame but the imputation of this idiot's friendship!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-nashe/immortal-spenser-no-frailty-hath-thy-fame-but-the-imputation-of-this/) [Thomas Nashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-nashe/) > [A. E. Maxwell wrote one of the smartest, most consistent PI series in recent memory. Big plots, great villains, and a kickass private eye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-maleeny/a-e-maxwell-wrote-one-of-the-smartest-most-consistent-pi-series-in/) Tim Maleeny > [The church itself has got to go outside of its own borders and carry the gospel to ev'ry creature, or it is no church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-everett-hale/the-church-itself-has-got-to-go-outside-of-its-own-borders-and-carry/) [Edward Everett Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-everett-hale/) > [Even the best critical writing on Emily Dickinson underestimates her. She is frightening. To come to her directly from Dante, Spenser, Blake, and Baudelaire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/even-the-best-critical-writing-on-emily-dickinson-underestimates-her/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) ## More by Charles Caleb Colton > [Villainy that is vigilant will be an overmatch for virtue, if she slumber at her post.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/villainy-that-is-vigilant-will-be-an-overmatch-for-virtue-if-she/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [A beautiful woman, if poor, should use double circumspection; for her beauty will tempt others, her poverty herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-beautiful-woman-if-poor-should-use-double-circumspection-for-her/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Were the life of man prolonged, he would become such a proficient in villainy, that it would become necessary again to drown or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/were-the-life-of-man-prolonged-he-would-become-such-a-proficient-in/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [To dare to live alone is the rarest courage; since there are many who had rather meet their bitterest enemy in the field, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/to-dare-to-live-alone-is-the-rarest-courage-since-there-are-many-who/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [It is doubtful whether mankind are most indebted to those who like Bacon and Butler dig the gold from the mine of literature, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/it-is-doubtful-whether-mankind-are-most-indebted-to-those-who-like/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. Where one has been saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/be-very-slow-to-believe-that-you-are-wiser-than-all-others-it-is-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [None are so fond of secrets as those who do not mean to keep them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/none-are-so-fond-of-secrets-as-those-who-do-not-mean-to-keep-them/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Mental pleasures never cloy; unlike those of the body, they are increased by reputation, approved by reflection, and strengthened by enjoyment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/mental-pleasures-never-cloy-unlike-those-of-the-body-they-are/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Ignorance lies at the bottom of all human knowledge, and the deeper we penetrate, the nearer we arrive unto it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/ignorance-lies-at-the-bottom-of-all-human-knowledge-and-the-deeper-we/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Heroism, self-denial, and magnanimity, in all instances where they do not spring from a principle of religion, are but splendid altars on which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/heroism-self-denial-and-magnanimity-in-all-instances-where-they-do/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [We ought not to be over-anxious to encourage innovation in cases of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two advantages over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-ought-not-to-be-over-anxious-to-encourage-innovation-in-cases-of/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [We owe almost all our knowledge not to those who have agreed, but to those who have differed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-owe-almost-all-our-knowledge-not-to-those-who-have-agreed-but-to/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Metaphysicians have been learning their lessons for the last four thousand years, and it is high time that they should now begin to teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/metaphysicians-have-been-learning-their-lessons-for-the-last-four/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Faith and works are necessary to our spiritual life as Christians, as soul and body are to our natural life as men; for faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/faith-and-works-are-necessary-to-our-spiritual-life-as-christians-as/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [When all moves equally (says Pascal), nothing seems to move as in a vessel under sail; and when all run by common consent into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/when-all-moves-equally-says-pascal-nothing-seems-to-move-as-in-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) [Explore all 778 Charles Caleb Colton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All poets pretend to write for immortality, but the whole tribe have no objection to present pay, and present praise. Lord Burleigh is not the only statesman who has thought one hundred pounds too much for a song, though sung by Spenser; although Oliver Goldsmith is the only poet who ever considered himself to have been overpaid.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Caleb Colton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/all-poets-pretend-to-write-for-immortality-but-the-whole-tribe-have-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/all-poets-pretend-to-write-for-immortality-but-the-whole-tribe-have-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/charles-caleb-colton-270_death_all-poets-pretend-to-write-for-immortali_2771624.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/charles-caleb-colton-270_death_all-poets-pretend-to-write-for-immortali_2771624.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/charles-caleb-colton-270_death_all-poets-pretend-to-write-for-immortali_2771624.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All poets pretend to write for immortality, but the whole tribe have no objection to present pay, and…” — Charles Caleb Colton", "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": "Charles Caleb Colton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "All poets pretend to write for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/all-poets-pretend-to-write-for-immortality-but-the-whole-tribe-have-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/all-poets-pretend-to-write-for-immortality-but-the-whole-tribe-have-2/#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 } } ] } ```